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Cause of decay. [R.] He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. Bacon.

Fig.: With reference to the end of the year and to the winter season; as, the December of his life.

wer of 10, as -- Decimal point, a dot or full stop at the left of a decimal fraction. The figures at the left of the point represent units or whole numbers, as 1.05.

e angle; to cut or divide in the form of X; to intersect; -- said of lines in geometrical figures, rays of light, nerves, etc.

To destroy or mar the face or external appearance of; to disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or obliterating important features or portions of; as, to deface a monument; to deface an edifice; to deface writing; to deface a note, deed, or bond; to deface a record. "This high face defaced." Emerson. So by fa…

That which mars or disfigures. Bacon.

One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.

To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.] His unkindness may defeat my life. Shak.

Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] "Strange defeatures in my face." Shak.

To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure. Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world. Shak.

Unnatural or distorted in form; having a deformity; misshapen; disfigured; as, a deformed person; a deformed head. -- De*form"ed*ly, adv. -- De*form"ed*ness, n.

nts of an opponent; to defy public opinion. I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. Milton. I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. Burke.

Three figures taken together in numeration; thus, 140 is one degree, 222,140 two degrees.

To indicate by lines drawn in the form or figure of; to represent by sketch, design, or diagram; to sketch out; to portray; to picture; in drawing and engraving, to represent in lines, as with the pen, pencil, or graver; hence, to represent with accuracy and minuteness. See Delineation. Adventurous to delineate nature'…

Fig.: Anything which overwhelms, or causes great destruction. "The deluge of summer." Lowell. A fiery deluge fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Milton. As I grub up some quaint old fragment of a [London] street, or a house, or a shop, or tomb or burial ground, which has still survived in the deluge. F. Harrison.…

Half relief; sculpture in relief of which the figures project from the background by one half their full roundness.

ending to demonstrate; making evident; exhibiting clearly or conclusively. "Demonstrative figures." Dryden. An argument necessary and demonstrative. Hooker.

A stone or mineral on or in which are branching figures resembling shrubs or trees, produced by a foreign mineral, usually an oxide of manganese, as in the moss agate; also, a crystallized mineral having an arborescent form, e. g., gold or silver; an arborization.

Fig.: To blacken or sully; to defame. [R.] To denigrate the memory of Voltaire. Morley.

Fig.: A blackening; defamation. The vigorous denigration of science. Morley.