de-
(Latin: from, away from, off; down; wholly, entirely, utterly, complete; reverse the action of, undo; the negation or reversal of the notion expressed in the primary or root word)
decadently (adverb), more decadently, most decadently
1. Characteristic of how something is very pleasant and self indulging: Steve and Margret stayed in a decadently luxurious hotel room complete with decadently delicious food that was served to them.
2. Relating to how low morals and unrestrained desires for more money affect all kinds of self-indulgent pleasures: There are those who criticize the very wealthy for decadently increasing their corruption and immorality for their personal benefits.
2. Relating to how low morals and unrestrained desires for more money affect all kinds of self-indulgent pleasures: There are those who criticize the very wealthy for decadently increasing their corruption and immorality for their personal benefits.
decal
decalcify (verb), decalcifies; decalcified; decalcifing
To remove calcium or calcium compounds from bones or teeth.
A craze for transferring pictures from a specially prepared paper to surfaces of glass, porcelain, etc. Now decalcomania is well-known simply as putting decals on many places.
decalcomaniac
decalescent
decamp (verb), decamps; decamped; decamping
1. To depart or to leave suddenly and secretly: The army unit packed up their tents and equipment, and decamped from the area before dawn and moved on to their next destination before anyone in that location was aware of it.
2. To relocate from a place without prior notice: In order to avoid paying a higher rent for their apartment, Manfred and Jane decided to decamp one weekend to a less expensive place to live.
© ALL rights are reserved.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
2. To relocate from a place without prior notice: In order to avoid paying a higher rent for their apartment, Manfred and Jane decided to decamp one weekend to a less expensive place to live.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
decampment
decapitate (verb), decapitates; decapitated; decapitating
To cut off a head: With one swift blow, the butcher decapitated the chicken.
decapitated (adjective) (no comparatives)
decay (verb), decays; decayed; decaying
1. To break down into component parts; rot: Gerda put the vegetable peelings in the compost pile so they can decay and create fertilizer that can be used in her garden.
2. In physics, to disintegrate or diminish by a radioactive process: The spent nuclear waste will decay in the underground storage tanks, according to the latest news reports from the government.
3. In electronics, to decrease gradually in magnitude with reference to voltage or current: During what are called "Brown Outs", the quality of light in the city's core actually decays due to the electrical circuits being overloaded.
4. In aerospace, to decrease in orbit; referring to an artificial man-made apparatus that orbits around the Earth: Towards the end of a satellite's life span in space, the orbit begins to decay and it appears to circle closer to the Earth's atmosphere.
5. To fall into ruin: Without good repairs to the infrastructure, bridges crossing rivers into cities will decay and fall apart.
6. In pathology, to decline in health or vigor; to waste away: The dentist cautioned that without regular teeth brushing, one's teeth will start to decay.
7. To decline from a state of normality, excellence, or prosperity; to deteriorate: There are days when Dora's mother is convinced that her memory is beginning to decay because she can't seem to remember specific dates, names, etc. as well as she could before.
2. In physics, to disintegrate or diminish by a radioactive process: The spent nuclear waste will decay in the underground storage tanks, according to the latest news reports from the government.
3. In electronics, to decrease gradually in magnitude with reference to voltage or current: During what are called "Brown Outs", the quality of light in the city's core actually decays due to the electrical circuits being overloaded.
4. In aerospace, to decrease in orbit; referring to an artificial man-made apparatus that orbits around the Earth: Towards the end of a satellite's life span in space, the orbit begins to decay and it appears to circle closer to the Earth's atmosphere.
5. To fall into ruin: Without good repairs to the infrastructure, bridges crossing rivers into cities will decay and fall apart.
6. In pathology, to decline in health or vigor; to waste away: The dentist cautioned that without regular teeth brushing, one's teeth will start to decay.
7. To decline from a state of normality, excellence, or prosperity; to deteriorate: There are days when Dora's mother is convinced that her memory is beginning to decay because she can't seem to remember specific dates, names, etc. as well as she could before.
decayed (adjective), more decayed, most decayed
1. Referring to organic matter which has decomposed or has been destroyed as a result of bacterial or fungal action and so it has become rotten: The decayed plants forming the compost will be spread in the garden in early spring.
2. Concerning something damaged by deterioration, hence unsound and useless: The decayed concrete supports for the bridge were unsound and the bridge was closed until repairs could be completed.
2. Concerning something damaged by deterioration, hence unsound and useless: The decayed concrete supports for the bridge were unsound and the bridge was closed until repairs could be completed.
1. The destruction or decomposition of organic matter as a result of bacterial or fungal action; rot: The decayer that was stored in the bin in the back alley was stinking and needed to be removed.
2. Matter which becomes decomposed, such as vegetation that has become putrid: Heaps of compost and all natural forms of this kind, including leaf mold, rotting seaweeds, etc., are the decayers for breeding many flies.
3. A gradual deterioration to an inferior state, such as tooth and gum infections: The dentist indicated that there was a lot of decayer that needed to be repaired in Jim's teeth and it would require several consecutive appointments to improve his condition.
4. A decline into a disastrous condition: The decayer of the inner city was sad to see because so many old regal homes were falling into ruin.
2. Matter which becomes decomposed, such as vegetation that has become putrid: Heaps of compost and all natural forms of this kind, including leaf mold, rotting seaweeds, etc., are the decayers for breeding many flies.
3. A gradual deterioration to an inferior state, such as tooth and gum infections: The dentist indicated that there was a lot of decayer that needed to be repaired in Jim's teeth and it would require several consecutive appointments to improve his condition.
4. A decline into a disastrous condition: The decayer of the inner city was sad to see because so many old regal homes were falling into ruin.
