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The beginning of the day, or first appearance of light; the dawn; hence, the beginning. Milton. The tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke i. 78.

The time during which there is daylight, as distinguished from the night.

A dairymaid. [Obs.]

Pay drawn for soldiers, or others, really dead, whose names are kept on the rolls. O you commanders, That, like me, have no dead-pays. Massinger.

osperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith…

Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman. -- De*cay"ed*ness, n.

A causer of decay. [R.]

= Memorial Day. [U. S.]

To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc. For the discharge of his expenses, and defraying his cost, he allowed him . . . four times as much. Usher.

The act of defraying; payment; as, the defrayal of necessary costs.

One who pays off expenses.

Payment of charges.

erring; procrastination; lingering inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance. Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat. Acts xxv. 17. The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day. Macaulay.

One who delays; one who lingers.

By delays. [R.] Tennyson.

Hindrance. [Obs.] Gower.

To deny. [Obs.] That with great rage he stoutly doth denay. Spenser.

Disorder; merriment. [Obs.]

To throw into disorder; to break the array of. Who with fiery steeds Oft disarrayed the foes in battle ranged. Fenton.

Disorder. [R.] Feltham.