DEAW, d[=u], _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bedew.
DEBACLE, de-bak'l, _n._ a breaking up of ice on a river: (_geol._) a sudden
flood of water leaving its path strewed with debris. [Fr. _débâcle_; _de_,
and _bâcler_, to bar--L. _baculus_, a stick.]
DEBAR, de-bär', _v.t._ to bar out from: to exclude: to hinder:--_pr.p._
debar'ring; _pa.p._ debarred'.--_n._ DEBAR'MENT. [L. _de_, from, and
_bar_.]
DEBARK, de-bärk', _v.t._ or _v.i._ to land from a ship or boat: to
disembark.--_ns._ DEBARK[=A]'TION, DEBARC[=A]'TION. [Fr. _débarquer_--_des_
= L. _dis_, away, and _barque_, a ship.]
DEBARRASS, de-bär'as, _v.t._ to disembarrass, disentangle, free. [Fr.
_débarrasser_; _de_, and _barre_, a bar.]
DEBASE, de-b[=a]s', _v.t._ to lower: to make mean or of less value: to
adulterate.--_adj._ DEBASED', degraded: (_her._) reversed.--_n._
DEBASE'MENT, degradation.--_adj._ DEBAS'ING, tending to lower or
degrade.--_adv._ DEBAS'INGLY. [L. _de_, down, and _base_, low.]
DEBATE, de-b[=a]t', _n._ a contention in words or argument: (_obs._)
strife.--_v.t._ to contend for in argument: (_arch._) to fight for.--_v.i._
to deliberate: to join in debate.--_adjs._ DEBAT'ABLE, liable to be
disputed; DEBATE'FUL (_Spens._), quarrelsome.--_ns._ DEBATE'MENT (_Spens._,
_Shak._), controversy; DEBAT'ER.--_adv._ DEBAT'INGLY.--DEBATABLE LAND, a
tract of border land between Esk and Sark claimed both by England and
Scotland. [O. Fr. _debatre_--L. _de_, and _batu[)e]re_, to beat.]
DEBAUCH, de-bawch', _v.t._ to lead away from duty or allegiance: to corrupt
with lewdness: to pervert.--_v.i._ to indulge in revelry.--_n._ a fit of
intemperance or debauchery.--_p.adj._ DEBAUCHED', corrupt:
profligate.--_adv._ DEBAUCH'EDLY.--_ns._ DEBAUCH'EDNESS; DEB'AUCHEE, a
libertine; DEBAUCH'ER; DEBAUCH'ERY, excessive intemperance: habitual
lewdness; DEBAUCH'MENT. [O. Fr. _desbaucher_ (Fr. _débaucher_), to
corrupt--_des_ = L. _dis_, and _baucher_, to hew--_bauche_ or _bauc_, a
beam, a course of stones.]
DEBEL, de-bel', _v.t._ (_Milt._) to conquer in war. [Fr. _débeller_--L.
_debell[=a]re_--_de_, from, and _bell[=a]re_, to carry on war, from
_bellum_, war.]
DEBENTURE, de-bent'[=u]r, _n._ a written acknowledgment of a debt: a deed
of mortgage given by a railway or other company for borrowed money: a
certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a repayment of the
duty paid on their importation.--_p.adj._ DEBENT'URED, entitled to drawback
or debenture, as goods. [L. _debentur_, there are due, 3d pers. pl. pass.
of _deb[=e]re_, to owe--the first word of the receipt.]
DEBILITATE, de-bil'i-t[=a]t, _v.t._ to make weak: to impair the strength
of.--_adj._ DEB'ILE (_arch._), weak, feeble.--_ns._ DEBILIT[=A]'TION;
DEBIL'ITY, weakness and languor: a weak action of the animal functions. [L.
_debilit[=a]re_, _[=a]tum_--_debilis_, weak--_de_, not, _habilis_, able.
See ABILITY.]
DEBIT, deb'it, _n._ a debt or something due: an entry on the debtor side of
an account.--_v.t._ to charge with debt: to enter on the debtor side of an
account.--_n._ DEB'ITOR (_Shak._), a debtor. [L. _debitum_, what is due,
from _deb[=e]re_, to owe.]
DEBITUMINISE, d[=e]-bi-t[=u]'mi-n[=i]z, _v.t._ to deprive of bitumen.
DÉBLAI, d[=a]-bl[=a]', _n._ the earth excavated from a ditch to form a
parapet. [Fr.]
DEBONAIR, deb-o-n[=a]r', _adj._ of good appearance and manners: elegant:
courteous: gay.--_adv._ DEBONAIR'LY.--_n._ DEBONAIR'NESS. [Fr. _de_, of,
_bon_, good, _air_, appearance, manner.]
DEBOSH, de-bosh', an old form of _debauch_.
DEBOUCH, de-b[=oo]sh', _v.i._ to march out from a narrow pass or confined
place.--_ns._ DEBOUCH'MENT, the act of debouching; DEBOUCHURE', the mouth
of a river or strait. [Fr. _déboucher_--_de_, from, _bouche_, the mouth--L.
_bucca_, the cheek.]