Part 2990

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities of a thing or species.</def>

<blockquote>Milton has <b>descriptions</b> of morning. <i>D. Webster.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind; sort.</def>

<blockquote>A difference . . . between them and another <b>description</b> of public creditors. <i>A. Hamilton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The plates were all of the meanest <b>description</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Account; definition; recital; relation; detail; narrative; narration; explanation; delineation; representation; kind; sort. See <er>Definition</er>.</syn>

<h1>Descriptive</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scrip"tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>descriptivus</ets>: cf. F. <ets>descriptif</ets>.]</ety> <def>Tending to describe; having the quality of representing; containing description; <as>as, a <ex>descriptive</ex> figure; a <ex>descriptive</ex> phrase; a <ex>descriptive</ex> narration; a story <ex>descriptive</ex> of the age.</as></def>

<cs><col>Descriptive anatomy</col>, <cd>that part of anatomy which treats of the forms and relations of parts, but not of their textures.</cd> -- <col>Descriptive geometry</col>, <cd>that branch of geometry. which treats of the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means of projections upon auxiliary planes.</cd></cs>

<i>Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. )</i>

-- <wordforms><wf>De*scrip"tive*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>De*scrip"tive*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Descrive</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scrive"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>descrivre</ets>. See <er>Describe</er>.]</ety> <def>To describe.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Spenser.</i>

<h1>Descry</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scry"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Descried</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Descrying</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>descrien</ets>, <ets>discrien</ets>, to espy, prob. from the proclaiming of what was espied, fr. OF. <ets>descrier</ets> to proclaim, cry down, decry, F. <ets>d\'82crier</ets>. The word was confused somewhat with OF. <ets>descriven</ets>, E. <ets>describe</ets>, OF. <ets>descrivre</ets>, from L. <ets>describere</ets>. See <er>Decry</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure; to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover.</def>

<blockquote>And the house of Joseph sent to <b>descry</b> Bethel. <i>Judg. i. 23.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to <b>descry</b> The strength o' the enemy. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>And now their way to earth they had <b>descried</b>. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To discover; to disclose; to reveal.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should <b>descry</b> him. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.</syn>

<h1>Descry</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*scry"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt><def>, Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Near, and on speedy foot; the main <b>descry</b> Stands on the hourly thought. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Desecate</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>Des"e*cate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>desecare</ets> to cut off.]</ety> <def>To cut, as with a scythe; to mow.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>