Detector bar
De‐tect″or bar. (Railroads) A bar, connected with a switch, longer than the distance between any two consecutive wheels of a train (45 to 50 feet), laid inside a rail and operat...
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Webster's Dictionary 1913
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, C. & G. Merriam Co., 1913.
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Detenebrate
De‐ten″e‐brate (?), v. t. [L. de + tenebrare to make dark, fr. tenebrae darkness.] To remove darkness from. Ash.
Detent
De‐tent″ (?), n. [F. détente, fr. détendre to unbend, relax; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See Distend.] (Mech.) That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch...
Detention
De‐ten″tion (?), n. [L. detentio: cf. F. détention. See Detain.] 1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); del...
Deter
De‐ter″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Deterred (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Deterring.] [L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror.] To prevent by fear; hence, to hinder or p...
Deterge
De‐terge″ (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Deterged (?); p. pr. & vb. n.Deterging.] [L. detergere, detersum; de + tergere to rub or wipe off: cf. F. déterger.] To cleanse; to purge away,...
Detergency
De‐ter″gen‐cy (?), n. A cleansing quality or power. De Foe.
Detergent
De‐ter″gent (?), a. [L. detergens, -entis, p. pr. of detergere: cf. F. détergent.] Cleansing; purging. — n. A substance which cleanses the skin, as water or soap; a medicine to ...
Deteriorate
De‐te″ri‐o‐rate (dē̍‐tē″rĭ‐ō̍‐rāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Deteriorated (–rā′tĕd); p. pr. & vb. n.Deteriorating (–rā′tĭng).] [L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorare to deteriorate, f...
Deteriorate (2)
De‐te″ri‐o‐rate (dē̍‐tē″rĭ‐ō̍‐rāt), v. i. To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates. Goldsmith.
Deterioration
De‐te′ri‐o‐ra″tion (?), n. [LL. deterioratio: cf. F. détérioration.] The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown worse.
Deteriority
De‐te′ri‐or″i‐ty (?), n. [L. deterior worse. See Deteriorate.] Worse state or quality; inferiority. “The deteriority of the diet.” Ray.
Determent
De‐ter″ment (?), n. [From Deter.] The act of deterring; also, that which deters. Boyle.
Determinability
De‐ter′mi‐na‐bil″i‐ty (?), n. The quality of being determinable; determinableness. Coleridge.
Determinable
De‐ter″mi‐na‐ble (?), a. [L. determinabilis finite. See Determine, v. t.] Capable of being determined, definitely ascertained, decided upon, or brought to a conclusion.Not wholl...
Determinableness
De‐ter″mi‐na‐ble‐ness, n. Capability of being determined; determinability.
Determinacy
De‐ter″mi‐na‐cy (?), n. Determinateness.
Determinant
De‐ter″mi‐nant (?), a. [L. determinans, p. pr. of determinare: cf. F. déterminant.] Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
Determinant (2)
De‐ter″mi‐nant, n. 1. That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.2. (Math.) The sum of a series of products of several numbers, these products being formed ...
Determinate
De‐ter″mi‐nate (?), a. [L. determinatus, p. p. of determinare. See Determine.] 1. Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed; established; definite.Quantity of wor...
Determinate (2)
De‐ter″mi‐nate (?), v. t. To bring to an end; to determine. See Determine.The sly, slow hours shall not determinateThe dateless limit of thy dear exile. Shak.
Determinately
De‐ter″mi‐nate‐ly (?), adv. 1. In a determinate manner; definitely; ascertainably.The principles of religion are already either determinately true or false, before you think of ...
Determinateness
De‐ter″mi‐nate‐ness, n. State of being determinate.
Determination
De‐ter′mi‐na″tion (?), n. [L. determinatio boundary, end: cf. F. détermination.] 1. The act of determining, or the state of being determined.2. Bringing to an end; termination; ...
Determinative
De‐ter″mi‐na‐tive (?), a. [Cf. F. déterminatif.] Having power to determine; limiting; shaping; directing; conclusive.Incidents... determinative of their course. I. Taylor.Determ...
Determinative (2)
De‐ter″mi‐na‐tive (?), n. That which serves to determine.Explanatory determinatives... were placed after words phonetically expressed, in order to serve as an aid to the reader ...
Determinator
De‐ter″mi‐na′tor (?), n. One who determines. Sir T. Browne.