Part 2991

<h1>Desecrate</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>Des"e*crate</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Desecrated</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Desecrating</er> <tt>(?)</tt>.]</wordforms> <ety>[L. <ets>desecratus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>desecrare</ets> (also <ets>desacrare</ets>) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken in the sense if to divest of a sacred character; <ets>de-</ets> + <ets>sacrare</ets> to consecrate, fr. <ets>sacer</ets> sacred. See <er>Sacred</er>.]</ety> <def>To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an unworthy use; -- the opposite of <i>consecrate</i>.</def>

<blockquote>The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being previously <b>desecrated</b>. <i>W. Tooke.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those who should <b>desecrate</b> their donations. <i>Salmon.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Desecrater</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>Des"e*cra`ter</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who desecrates; a profaner.</def>

<i>Harper's Mag.</i>

<h1>Desecration</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>Des`e*cra"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The act of desecrating; profanation; condition of anything desecrated.</def>

<h1>Desecrator</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>Des"e*cra`tor</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who desecrates.</def> "<i>Desecrators</i> of the church."

<i>Morley.</i>

<h1>Desegmentation</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*seg`men*ta"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>The loss or obliteration of division into segments; <as>as, a <ex>desegmentation</ex> of the body</as>.</def>

<h1>Desert</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>De*sert"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OF. <ets>deserte</ets>, <ets>desserte</ets>, merit, recompense, fr. <ets>deservir</ets>, <ets>desservir</ets>, to merit. See <er>Deserve</er>.]</ety> <def>That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward; merit.</def>

<blockquote>According to their <b>deserts</b> will I judge them. <i>Ezek. vii. 27.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Andronicus, surnamed Pius For many good and great <b>deserts</b> to Rome. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>His reputation falls far below his <b>desert</b>. <i>A. Hamilton.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- Merit; worth; excellence; due.</syn>

<h1>Desert</h1> <Xpage=397>

<hw>Des"ert</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>d\'82sert</ets>, L. <ets>desertum</ets>, from <ets>desertus</ets> solitary, desert, pp. of <ets>deserere</ets> to desert; <ets>de-</ets> + <ets>serere</ets> to join together. See <er>Series</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and Africa are destitute and vegetation.</def>

<blockquote>A dreary <b>desert</b> and a gloomy waste. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population, but has been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary place.</def>

<blockquote>He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her <b>desert</b> like the garden of the Lord. <i>Is. li. 3.</i></blockquote>

<note>Also figuratively.</note>

<blockquote>Before her extended Dreary and vast and silent, the <b>desert</b> of life. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>