De*bac"chate (?), v. i. [L. debacchatus, p. p. of debacchari to rage; de- + bacchari to rage like a bacchant.] To rave as a bacchanal. [R.] Cockeram.
De`bac*cha"tion (?), n. [L. debacchatio.] Wild raving or debauchery. [R.] Prynne.
De*ba"cle (?), n. [F. débâcle, fr. débâcler to unbar, break loose; pref. dé- (prob. = L. dis) + bâcler to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.] (Geol.) A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses blocks of stone and other débris.
De*bar" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debarred (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debarring.] [Pref. de- + bar.] To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from, and sometimes with of.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed
Labor, as to debar us when we need
Refreshment.
Milton.
Their wages were so low as to debar them, not only from the comforts but from the common decencies of civilized life.
Buckle.
De*barb" (?), v. t. [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.] To deprive of the beard. [Obs.] Bailey.
De"bark" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debarked (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debarking.] [F. débarquer; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + barque. See Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark.] To go ashore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to put ashore.
De`bar*ka"tion (?), n. Disembarkation.
The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers.
U. S. Grant.
De*bar"ment (?), n. Hindrance from approach; exclusion.
De*bar"rass (?), v. t. [Cf. F. débarrasser. See Embarrass.] To disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]
De*base" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debasing.] [Pref. de- + base. See Base, a., and cf. Abase.] To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words.
The coin which was adulterated and debased.
Hale.
It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with such frivolous disputes.
Hooker.
And to debase the sons, exalts the sires.
Pope.
Syn. -- To abase; degrade. See Abase.
De*based" (?), a. (Her.) Turned upside down from its proper position; inverted; reversed.
De*base"ment (?), n. The act of debasing or the state of being debased. Milton.
De*bas"er (?), n. One who, or that which, debases.
De*bas"ing*ly, adv. In a manner to debase.
De*bat"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. debatable. See Debate.] Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question.
The Debatable Land or Ground, a tract of land between the Esk and the Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.
De*bate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] [OF. debatre, F. débattre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.] 1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.
Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine.
Prescott.
2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.
A wise council . . . that did debate this business.
Shak.
Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself.
Prov. xxv. 9.
Syn. -- To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.
De*bate", v. i. 1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Well could he tourney and in lists debate.
Spenser.
2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon.
He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends.
Tatler.
De*bate", n. [F. débat, fr. débattre. See Debate, v. t.] 1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic]
On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore.
R. of Gloucester.
But question fierce and proud reply
Gave signal soon of dire debate.
Sir W. Scott.
2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress.
Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate.
Pope.