Decrepitate, de-krep′i-tāt, v.i. to crackle, as salts when heated.—v.t. to roast so as to cause a continual crackling, to calcine.—n. Decrepitā′tion. [L. de, inten., crepitāre, to rattle much, freq. of crepāre.]
Decrescent, de-kres′ent, adj. becoming gradually less.—n. (mus.) Decrescen′do = Diminuendo (q.v.). [L.]
Decretal, de-krē′tal, adj. pertaining to a decree.—n. a decree, esp. of the pope: a book containing decrees: spec. in pl. the second part of the canon law, the decrees of various popes determining points of ecclesiastical law.—n. Decrē′tist, in medieval universities, a student of the decretals, a student of law.—adjs. Decrē′tive; Decrē′tory, pertaining to a decree, judicial. [L. decretalis—decretum.]
Decrew, de-krōō′, v.i. (Spens.) to decrease. [For decrue—O. Fr. decru, pa.p. of decroistre. See Decrease.]
Decrown, dē-krown′, v.t. to discrown. [Fr. découronner, to discrown.]
Decrustation, dē-krus-tā′shun, n. the act of removing a crust.
Decry, de-krī′, v.t. to cry down: to condemn: to censure as worthless: to blame:—pa.p. decried′.—ns. Decrī′al; Decrī′er. [Fr. de(s) = L. dis, and crier, to cry. See Cry.]
Decuman, dek′ū-man, adj. principal, large—of waves, &c.: connected with the principal gate of a Roman camp (near which the 10th cohort of the legion was stationed).—n. a great wave, as every tenth wave was supposed to be. [L. decumanus—decem, ten.]
Decumbent, de-kum′bent, adj. lying down: reclining on the ground.—ns. Decubā′tion, Decum′bence, Decum′bency, the act or posture of lying down.—adj. Decū′bital—n. Decū′bitus, a recumbent position, as of one sick in bed: a bed-sore.—adv. Decum′bently.—n. Decum′biture, the time when a sick person takes to bed. [L. decumbens—de, down, and cumbĕre, for cubāre, to lie.]
Decuple, dek′ū-pl, adj. tenfold.—n. a number ten times repeated.—v.t. to make tenfold. [Fr. décuple—L. decem, ten, and plicāre, to fold.]