Search the Dictionary

A piece of defensive armor, covering the body from the neck to the girdle.

Defensive armor for the thighs. [ Written also cuisse, and quish.]

A dwarf umbelliferous plant, somewhat resembling fennel (Cuminum Cyminum), cultivated for its seeds, which have a bitterish, warm taste, with an aromatic flavor, and are used like those of anise and caraway. [Written also cummin.] Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. Spenser. Black cumin (Bot.), a plant (Nigella…

A yard, courtyard, or piece of ground, included within the fence surrounding a dwelling house. Burrill.

A seat in old Scottish churches, where offenders were made to sit, for public rebuke by the minister.

ch a vessel would go. -- Dead angle (Mil.), an angle or space which can not be seen or defended from behind the parapet. -- Dead block, either of two wooden or iron blocks intended to serve instead of buffers at the end of a freight car. -- Dead calm (Naut.), no wind at all. -- Dead center, or Dead point (Mach.), e…

Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened. Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight. Dryden.

To stun or stupefy with noise; to deafen. [Scot.]

bservances of time, place, and of decency in general. Burke. Immodest words admit of no defense, For want of decency is want of sense. Roscommon.

inion; to come to a conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the defendant. Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.

To defend by declamation; to advocate loudly. [Obs.] "Declaims his cause." South.

ers of justice, or parties exposed to injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under circumstances that will lead to his detection.

superficially; in a high degree; intensely; as, deeply skilled in ethics. He had deeply offended both his nobles and people. Bacon. He sighed deeply in his spirit. Mark viii. 12.

Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom. And pardon craved for his so rash default. Spenser. Regardless of our merit or default. Pope.

To deprive of a garrison, or of troops necessary for defense; as, to degarnish a city or fort. [R.] Washington.

Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend; considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.

An offense or transgression against law; (Scots Law) an offense of a lesser degree; a misdemeanor. Every regulation of the civil code necessarily implies a delict in the event of its violation. Jeffrey.

Failure or omission of duty; a fault; a misdeed; an offense; a misdemeanor; a crime. The delinquencies of the little commonwealth would be represented in the most glaring colors. Motley.

Failing in duty; offending by neglect of duty.

or demerit in any man or any action. Burke. Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense. Sir W. Temple.