3. The destruction of any large proportion, as of people by pestilence or war. Milman.
Dec"i*ma`tor (?), n. [Cf. LL. decimator.] One who decimates. South.
||Dé`cime" (?), n. [F.] A French coin, the tenth part of a franc, equal to about two cents.
{ Dec"i*me`ter, Dec"i*me`tre } (?), n. [F. décimètre; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + mètre. See Meter.] A measure of length in the metric system; one tenth of a meter, equal to 3.937 inches.
Dec`i*mo*sex"to (?), n. [Prop., in sixteenth; fr. L. decimus tenth + sextus sixth.] A book consisting of sheets, each of which is folded into sixteen leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of book; - - usually written 16mo or 16°.
Dec`i*mo*sex"to, a. Having sixteen leaves to a sheet; as, a decimosexto form, book, leaf, size.
De"cine (?; 104), n. [From L. decem ten.] (Chem.) One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H15, of the acetylene series; -- called also decenylene.
De*ci"pher (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deciphered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deciphering.] [Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F. déchiffrer. See Cipher.] 1. To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters.
2. To find out, so as to be able to make known the meaning of; to make out or read, as words badly written or partly obliterated; to detect; to reveal; to unfold.