Début, de-bü′ (u sounded as in Scot. gude), n. a beginning or first attempt: a first appearance before the public, as of an actor, &c.—n. Débutant′, one who makes his first appearance before the public:—fem. Débutante′. [Fr. début, a first stroke—débuter—de, from, but, aim, mark.]
Decachord, dek′a-kord, n. an ancient musical instrument with ten strings: anything having ten parts. [Gr. dekachordos—deka, ten, and chordē, a string.]
Decacuminated, dē-ka-kū′mi-nā-ted, adj. having the top cut off.
Decade, dek′ād, Decad, dek′ad, n. a group of ten, esp. a series of ten years.—adj. Dec′adal. [Fr. décade—Gr. dekas—deka, ten.]
Decadence, dek′a-dens, or de-kā′-, Dec′adency (or de-kā′-), n. state of decay: a term for a school in modern French literature not distinguished for vigour or originality.—adj. Dec′adent (or de-kā′-), decaying.—n. something decaying or decayed. [Fr.,—Low L. decadentia, from L. de, down—cadĕre, to fall.]
Decagon, dek′a-gon, n. a plane figure of ten angles and sides.—adj. Decag′onal. [Gr. deka, and gōnia, an angle.]
Decagramme, Decagram, dek′a-gram, n. a weight of ten grammes, equal to 0.353 oz. [Fr.,—Gr. deka, ten, and gramma, a weight; L. granum, a grain.]
Decagynia, dek-a-jin′i-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having ten pistils.—adjs. Decagyn′ian, Decag′ynous. [Gr. deka, ten, gynē, a woman.]
Decahedron, dek-a-hē′dron, n. a solid figure having ten faces.—adj. Decahē′dral. [Gr. deka, and hedra, a seat.]
Decalcify, de-kal′si-fī, v.i. to deprive of lime: to take the calcareous matter out of bones, teeth, &c.—n. Decalcificā′tion. [L. de, away from, calx, calcis, lime, facĕre, to make.]