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The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, et…

An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction.

Causing deflection. Deflective forces, forces that cause a body to deviate from its course.

atures; ugliness. To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock my body. Shak.

Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole. Degradation of energy, or Dissipation of energy (Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.

The act or process of freeing from water; also, the condition of a body from which the water has been removed.

A body of delegates or commissioners; a delegation. [Obs.] Burton.

d commissioned to represent others, as in a convention, in Congress, etc.; the collective body of delegates; as, the delegation from Massachusetts; a deputation.

mination of the reasons for and against a measure; as, the deliberations of a legislative body or council.

cting by deliberation, or by discussion and examination; deliberating; as, a deliberative body. A consummate work of deliberative wisdom. Bancroft. The court of jurisdiction is to be distinguished from the deliberative body, the advisers of the crown. Hallam.

The act of delivering up or over; surrender; transfer of the body or substance of a thing; distribution; as, the delivery of a fort, of hostages, of a criminal, of goods, of letters.

A glass vessel or bottle with a large body and small neck, inclosed in wickerwork.

A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as having no protection for the legs below the things, no vizor to the helmet, and the like.

ions; having power to clear or open the natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body; aperient. -- n.

To open out; to unfold; to spread out (a body of troops) in such a way that they shall display a wider front and less depth; -- the reverse of ploy; as, to deploy a column of troops into line of battle.

The act of deploying; a spreading out of a body of men in order to extend their front. -Wilhelm. Deployments . . . which cause the soldier to turn his back to the enemy are not suited to war.H.L. Scott.

lunder and pillage; to despoil; to lay waste; to prey upon. It makes the substance of the body . . . less apt to be consumed and depredated by the spirits. Bacon.

horizontal measurement backward from the front; as, the depth of a river; the depth of a body of troops.

The person or persons deputed or commissioned by another person, party, or public body to act in his or its behalf; delegation; as, the general sent a deputation to the enemy to propose a truce. By deputation, or In deputation, by delegated authority; as substitute; through the medium of a deputy. [Obs.] Say to great C…