decay (n.) — decorate (v.)
mid-15c., "deterioration, decline in value, gradual loss of soundness or perfection," from decay (v.). Obsolete or archaic in reference to fortune or property; meaning "decomposition of organic tissue" is from 1590s. In physics, the meaning "gradual decrease in radioactivity" is by 1897.ETD decay (n.).2
"picture transferred from a specially prepared paper to some other surface," by 1909, shortening of decalcomania (1864), from French décalcomanie, from décalquer (18c.) "transferring of a tracing from specially prepared paper to glass, porcelain, etc." (in vogue in France 1840s, England 1862-64), from de- "off" (see de-) + calquer "to press," from Italian calcare, from Latin calcare "to tread on, press," from calx (1) "heel" (see calcaneus).ETD decal (n.).2
"Ten Commandments," late 14c., from Latin decalogus, from Greek dekalogos, from the phrase hoi deka logoi used to translate "Ten Commandments" in Septuagint. See deca- + Logos.ETD Decalogue (n.).2
c. 1600, from Italian Decamerone, titleof Boccaccio's 14c. collection of 100 tales supposedly told over 10 days, from Greek deka "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten") + hēmera "day," from PIE *Hehmer "day" (source also of Armenian awr "day"). Related: Decameronic.ETD Decameron (n.).2
1670s, "to break camp, depart from a place of encampment" (military), from French décamper (17c.), earlier descamper, from des- (see dis-) + camper (see camp (n.)). Non-military sense of "go away promptly or suddenly" is by 1751. Related: Decamped; decamping.ETD decamp (v.).2
vessel for decanting liquors, 1715, agent noun from decant.ETD decanter (n.).2
1630s, "pour off gently the clear liquid from a solution by tipping the vessel," originally an alchemical term, from French décanter, perhaps from Medieval Latin decanthare "to pour from the edge of a vessel," from de- "off, away" (see de-) + Medieval Latin canthus "corner, lip of a jug," from Latin cantus, canthus "iron rim around a carriage wheel" (see cant (n.2)). Related: Decanted; decanting.ETD decant (v.).2
"reduce from the rank or position of a capital city," 1870; see de- + capital (n.1) + -ize. As "to remove the financial capital from," by 1913, from capital (n.2). In reference to letters, "to change from upper case to lower case," by 1899. Related: Decapitalized; decapitalization.ETD decapitalize (v.).2
"behead, cut off the head of," 1610s, from French décapiter (14c.), from Late Latin decapitatus past participle of decapitare, from Latin de "off" (see de-) + caput (genitive capitis) "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). Related: Decapitated; decapitating.ETD decapitate (v.).2
1640s, "act or fact of decapitating or being decapitated," from French décapitation, from Medieval Latin decapitationem (nominative decapitatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of Late Latin decapitare, from Latin de "off" (see de-) + caput (genitive capitis) "head" (from PIE root *kaput- "head"). In U.S. political slang, "summary removal from office," 1869.ETD decapitation (n.).2
1819, "ten-legged animal, type of crustacean having ten legs" (crabs, lobsters, shrimp), from French décapode (1806), from Modern Latin Decapoda (animalia), from Greek dekapoda, neuter plural of dekapous "ten-footed" (see ten + foot (n.)). From 1885 in reference to a type of locomotive with ten driving-wheels.ETD decapod (n.).2
modern composite Olympic event consisting of ten challenges, 1912, from deca- "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten") + Greek athlon "contest, prize," which is of uncertain origin.ETD decathlon (n.).2
"death," early 14c., from Old French deces (12c., Modern French décès) "decease, death," from Latin decessus "death" (euphemism for mors), also "a retirement, a departure," from decess-, past participle stem of decedere "die, depart, withdraw," literally "to go down," from de "away" (see de-) + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). Still used with a tinge of euphemism.ETD decease (n.).2
"to die, depart from life," early 15c., decesen, from decease (n.). Related: Deceased; deceasing.ETD decease (v.).2
mid-15c., "dead, departed from life," past-participle adjective from decease (v.). As a verbal noun meaning "dead person, those who are dead," from early 17c.ETD deceased (adj.).2
1730, "dead person," now mostly as a term in U.S. law, from Latin decedentem, present participle of decedere "to die, to depart" (see decease (n.)).ETD decedent (n.).2
"full of deceit, tending to mislead," mid-15c., from deceit + -ful. Earlier in the same sense was deceivant (late 14c.). Related: Deceitfully; deceitfulness.ETD deceitful (adj.).2
c. 1300, "trickery, treachery, lying," from Old French deceite, fem. past participle of deceveir, decevoir, from Latin decipere "to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat," from de "from" or pejorative (see de-) + capere "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp."ETD deceit (n.).2
From mid-14c. as "act or practice of deceiving," also "false appearance, illusion." From late 14c. as "quality of being false or misleading."ETD deceit (n.).3
"mislead by false appearance or statement," c. 1300, from Old French decevoir "to deceive" (12c., Modern French décevoir), from Latin decipere "to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat," from de "from" or pejorative (see de-) + combining form of capere "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp." Related: Deceived; deceiver; deceiving.ETD deceive (v.).2
1894, originally in railroading, coined from de- "do the opposite of" + (ac)celeration.ETD deceleration (n.).2
1899, probably a back-formation from deceleration. Related: Decelerated; decelerating.ETD decelerate (v.).2
"twelfth and last (by modern reckoning) month of the calendar, the month of the winter solstice," late Old English, from Old French decembre, from Latin December, from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten"); tenth month of the old Roman calendar, which began with March.ETD December (n.).2
The -ber in four Latin month names is probably from -bris, an adjectival suffix. Tucker thinks that the first five months were named for their positions in the agricultural cycle, and "after the gathering in of the crops, the months were merely numbered."ETD December (n.).3
Decembrist, in Russian history in reference to the insurrection against Nicholas I in December 1825, is by 1868 in English, translating Russian dekabrist, from dekabr' "December."ETD December (n.).4
"one of ten men," especially as the title of members of several bodies at different times and for different purposes in ancient Rome, mid-15c., from Latin decemvir (plural decemviri), from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten") + vir "man" (from PIE root *wi-ro- "man").ETD decemvir (n.).2
1560s, "appropriateness, state or quality of being fit or suitable," from Latin decentia "comeliness, decency," from decentem "becoming, fitting," present participle of decere "to be fitting or suitable," from PIE *deke-, from root *dek- "to take, accept." Meaning "modesty, freedom from ribaldry or obscenity" (i.e. "appropriateness to standards of society") is from 1630s.ETD decency (n.).2
"existing or continuing for ten years; occurring every ten years," 1650s, with -al (1) + Latin decennium, from decennis "of 10 years," from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten") + annus "year" (see annual (adj.)). For vowel change, see biennial. As a noun, "a tenth anniversary," by 1884.ETD decennial (adj.).2
"pertaining to the number nineteen," 1680s, from Late Latin decennovalis, from assimilated form of Latin decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten") + novem "nine" (see nine).ETD decennoval (adj.).2
1530s, "proper to one's station or rank," also "tasteful, proper with regard to modesty or social standards," from French décent, or directly from Latin decentem (nominative decens) "becoming, seemly, fitting, proper," present participle of decere "to be fitting or suitable" (from PIE *deke-, from root *dek- "to take, accept"). Related: Decently.ETD decent (adj.).2
Meaning "kind, pleasant" is from 1902. Meaning "moderate, respectable, good enough" is by 1711. Are you decent? "are you dressed?" (1949) was originally backstage theater jargon.ETD decent (adj.).3
"distribute or take away from a center," 1840 (implied in decentralized), perhaps a back-formation from decentralization. Related: Decentralizing.ETD decentralize (v.).2
"act or principle of removing local or special functions of government from immediate control of central authority," 1839, from de- + centralization. Decentralisation is attested by 1835 in German, in reference to France, but the word does not seem to appear in French before the earliest English dates.ETD decentralization (n.).2
early 15c., decepcioun, "act of misleading, a lie, a falsehood," from Old French déception (13c., decepcion) or directly from Late Latin deceptionem (nominative deceptio) "a deceiving," noun of state or action from past-participle stem of Latin decipere "to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat," from de "from" or pejorative (see de-) + capere "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp."ETD deception (n.).2
From mid-15c. as "state of being deceived; error, mistake;" from 1794 as "artifice, cheat, that which deceives."ETD deception (n.).3
"tending to mislead or give false impression," 1610s, from French deceptif (late 14c.), from Medieval Latin deceptivus, from decept-, past participle stem of Latin decipere "to ensnare, take in, beguile, cheat," from de "from" or pejorative (see de-) + capere "to take," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp."ETD deceptive (adj.).2
In this sense in English it superseded deceptious (c. 1600), from French deceptieux, from Medieval Latin deceptiosus, from deceptionem; also deceptory (mid-15c.), from Latin deceptorious. Related: Deceptively; deceptiveness.ETD deceptive (adj.).3
"to remove a certificate or certification from," 1918; see de- + certify. Related: Decertification (1919).ETD decertify (v.).2
c. 1400, decessioun, "departure, separation;" c. 1600, "decrease from a standard, diminution," from Latin decessionem (nominative decessio) "a going away, departure," noun of action from past-participle stem of decedere "to go down, depart," from de "away" (see de-) + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield").ETD decession (n.).2
in the metric system, word-forming element denoting one-tenth of the standard unit of measure, 1801, from French deci-, taken arbitrarily from Latin decimus "tenth," from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten").ETD deci-.2
1928, from deci- + bel (n.).ETD decibel (n.).2
"resolute, free from hesitation or wavering," 1790, past-participle adjective from decide. A decided victory is one the reality of which is not in doubt; a decisive one goes far toward settling some issue. Meaning "free from ambiguity or uncertainty" also is from 1790. Related: Decidedly.ETD decided (adj.).2
late 14c., "to settle a dispute, determine a controversy," from Old French decider, from Latin decidere "to decide, determine," literally "to cut off," from de "off" (see de-) + caedere "to cut" (from PIE root *kae-id- "to strike"). For Latin vowel change, see acquisition. Sense is of resolving difficulties "at a stroke." Meaning "to make up one's mind" is attested from 1830. Related: Decided; deciding.ETD decide (v.).2
1680s, with reference to leaves, petals, teeth, etc., "falling off at a certain stage of existence," from Latin deciduus "that which falls down," from decidere "to fall off, fall down," from de "down" (see de-) + combining form of cadere "to fall," from PIE root *kad- "to fall." Of trees and bushes, "losing foliage every year" (opposed to evergreen), from 1778. The Latin adjective was used of shooting stars and testicles, but it seems not to have been used of trees or leaves (the phenomenon in Italy seems to be restricted to the mountain regions). Related: Deciduousness.ETD deciduous (adj.).2
1670s in astrology, of planets, "one-tenth part of the zodiac distant from one another;" 1882 in statistics; from French décile or Medieval Latin *decilis, from Latin decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten") on the model of quintilis, sextilis.ETD decile (adj.).2
c. 1600, "pertaining to a tenth or ten," from Medieval Latin decimalis "of tithes or tenths," from Latin decimus "tenth," from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten"). Applied to Arabic notation before modern use in reference to decimal fractions (fraction whose denominator is a power of 10) emerged 1610s. As a noun from 1640s, "a decimal fraction." Decimal point is by 1711; the use of the point seems to be due to Scottish mathematician John Napier, "Marvellous Merchiston," c. 1619.ETD decimal (adj.).2
mid-15c., decimacioun, "the paying of tithes, a tithing, a tax of 10% on income," from Old French decimacion and directly from Late Latin decimationem (nominative decimatio) "the taking of a tenth," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin decimare "the removal or destruction of one-tenth," from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten").ETD decimation (n.).2
As "punishment by capital execution of every tenth man, chosen by lot," from 1580s; loose or transferred sense of "destruction of a great but indefinite number, severe loss" is attested by 1680s.ETD decimation (n.).3
c. 1600, "to select by lot and put to death every tenth man," from Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare "the removal or destruction of one-tenth," from decem "ten" (from PIE root *dekm- "ten").ETD decimate (v.).2
The killing of one in ten, chosen by lots, from a rebellious city or a mutinous army was a punishment sometimes used by the Romans. The word has been used (loosely and unetymologically, to the irritation of pedants) since 1660s for "destroy a large but indefinite number of." Related: Decimated; decimating.ETD decimate (v.).3
also decimalisation, "act of reducing to a decimal system" (especially of currency), 1842; see decimal + -ization.ETD decimalization (n.).2
"measure of length equal to the tenth part of a meter, 1809, from deci- + meter (n.2).ETD decimeter (n.).2
1520s, "find out, discover" (a sense now obsolete); 1540s, "interpret (a coded writing, etc.) by the use of a key," from de- + cipher (v.). Perhaps in part a loan-translation from French déchiffrer. From c. 1600 in the transferred sense of "discover or explain the meaning of what is difficult to understand." Sense of "succeed in reading what is written in obscure or partially obliterated characters" is by 1710. Related: Deciphered; deciphering.ETD decipher (v.).2
"capable of being deciphered," c. 1600; see decipher + -able.ETD decipherable (adj.).2
1610s, "having the quality or power of determining," from Medieval Latin decisivus, from Latin decis-, past participle stem of decidere "to cut off; decide" (see decide). Meaning "marked by prompt determination" is from 1736. Compare decided. Related: Decisively; decisiveness.ETD decisive (adj.).2
mid-15c., decisioun, "act of deciding," from Old French décision (14c.), from Latin decisionem (nominative decisio) "a decision, settlement, agreement," noun of action from past-participle stem of decidere "to decide, determine," literally "to cut off," from de "off" (see de-) + caedere "to cut" (from PIE root *kae-id- "to strike").ETD decision (n.).2
The meaning "final judgment or opinion in a case" is from 1550s. The meaning "quality of being decided in character, ability to make prompt determinations" is attested by 1781; the sense of "a resolution, a fixing of purpose" is by 1886. Decision-making (adj.) is recorded by 1946.ETD decision (n.).3
also decivilise, "reduce or degrade from a civilized to a savage state," 1815; see de- + civilize. Compare French déciviliser. Related: Decivilized; decivilization (1815).ETD decivilize (v.).2
mid-15c., dekke, "covering extending from side to side over part of a ship," from a nautical use of Middle Dutch dec, decke "roof, covering," from Proto-Germanic *thakam (source also of thatch (n.)), from PIE root *(s)teg- "to cover."ETD deck (n.).2
Sense extended early in English from "covering" to "platform of a ship." Meaning "pack of cards necessary to play a game" is from 1590s, perhaps because they were stacked like decks of a ship. Tape-deck (1949) is in reference to the flat surface of old reel-to-reel tape recorders.ETD deck (n.).3
Deck-chair (1844) so called because they were used on ocean liners. On deck (by 1740) was in nautical use especially "ready for action or duty;" extended sense in baseball, of a batter waiting a turn at the plate, is by 1867. To clear the deck (1852) is to prepare a ship for action; it is perhaps a translation of French débarasser le pont.ETD deck (n.).4
"adorn, array or clothe with something ornamental" (as in deck the halls), early 15c., from Middle Dutch decken "to cover, put under roof," a nautical word, from Proto-Germanic *thakjan (source also of Old Frisian thekka, Old High German decchan, German decken), from PIE root *(s)teg- "to cover." Meaning "to cover, overspread" is from 1510s in English. Replaced Middle English thecchen, from Old English eccan (see thatch (v.), which is a doublet). Related: Decked; decking.ETD deck (v.1).2
"to knock down," by 1955, probably from deck (n.) on the notion of laying someone out on a ship's deck. Compare floor (v.) "to knock down." Related: Decked; decking.ETD deck (v.2).2
in combinations, "having a (specified) number of decks," originally of vessels, 1795, from deck (n.). Later of stacked sandwiches.ETD decker (adj.).2
"person regularly employed as a laborer on the deck of a vessel," 1839, American English, from deck (n.) in the nautical sense + hand (n.) "manual worker."ETD deck-hand (n.).2
1810, in paper-making, "rectangular frame on which the pulp is placed," from German deckel "lid, little cover," diminutive of decke "cover," from Old High German decchen "to cover," from Proto-Germanic *thakjan, from PIE root *(s)teg- "to cover." Meaning "rough or raw edge of paper" is by 1858.ETD deckle (n.).2
late 14c., "practice oratory, make a formal speech or oration," from Old French declamer (Modern French déclamer) and directly from Latin declamare "to practice public speaking, to bluster," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clamare "to cry, shout" (from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout").ETD declaim (v.).2
At first in English spelled declame, but altered under influence of claim. From 1570s as "speak or write as an exercise in elocution;" from 1795 as "speak aloud passionately in an appeal to the emotions of the audience." Related: Declaimed; declaiming.ETD declaim (v.).3
late 14c., declamacioun, "composition written to be declaimed," from Latin declamationem (nominative declamatio) "exercise in oratorical delivery; declamation;" in a bad sense, "loud, eager talking," noun of action from past-participle stem of declamare "to practice public speaking, to bluster," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clamare "to cry, shout" (from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout"). Meaning "a public harangue or speech" is from 1520s; sense of "act of making rhetorical harangues in public" is from 1550s.ETD declamation (n.).2
"of or characteristic of a declamation," 1580s, from Latin declamatorius "pertaining to the practice of speaking," from declamatus, past participle of declamare "to practice public speaking, to bluster," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clamare "to cry, shout" (from PIE root *kele- (2) "to shout").ETD declamatory (adj.).2
1530s, "making clear or manifest, explanatory," from French déclaratif and directly from Late Latin declarativus, from past-participle stem of Latin declarare "make clear, reveal, disclose, announce," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clarare "clarify," from clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)).ETD declarative (adj.).2
Meaning "making declaration, exhibiting" is from 1620s. The word was used in mid-15c. as a noun meaning "an explanation." Related: Declaratively.ETD declarative (adj.).3
"one who makes a declaration," 1680s, from French déclarant, from Latin declarantem (nominative declarans), present participle of declarare "make clear, reveal, disclose, announce," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clarare "clarify," from clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)). Especially in law, "one whose admission or statement is sought as evidence."ETD declarant (n.).2
late 14c., declaracioun, "an explanation, a statement, action of stating clearly," from Old French declaration and directly from Latin declarationem (nominative declaratio) "a making clear or evident, a disclosure, exposition," noun of action from past-participle stem of declarare "make clear, reveal, disclose, announce," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clarare "clarify," from clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)).ETD declaration (n.).2
The meaning "proclamation, formal public statement" is from c. 1400; that of "document by which an announcement or assertion is formally made" is from 1650s, as in declaration of independence, which is is recorded from 1776 (the one issued in that year by the British American colonies seems to be the first so called; though the phrase is not in the document itself, it was titled that from the first in the press). Declaration of war is by 1762.ETD declaration (n.).3
mid-14c., declaren, "explain, interpret, make clear;" late 14c., "make known by words, state explicitly, proclaim, announce," from Old French declarer "explain, elucidate," or directly from Latin declarare "make clear, reveal, disclose, announce," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clarare "to clarify," from clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)).ETD declare (v.).2
From mid-15c. as "assert, affirm." Intransitive sense "make known one's thoughts or intentions" is by 1840. Related: Declared; declaring.ETD declare (v.).3
mid-15c., "clarifying, explanatory," from Medieval Latin declaratorius, from Latin declarator, from declarare "make clear, reveal, disclose, announce," from de-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see de-) + clarare "to clarify," from clarus "clear" (see clear (adj.)). From 1580s as "making declaration or exhibition, affirmative." Related: Declaratorily.ETD declaratory (adj.).2
"having lost one's place in the social order," 1887, from French déclassé, past participle of déclasser "to cause to lose class," from de-, privative prefix (see de-) + classer "to class," from classe (n.), from Latin classis (see class (n.)). In italics in English until c. 1920; nativized form declassed is attested from 1873.ETD declasse (adj.).2
1865, originally a term in logic; with reference to state secrets, 1946; from de- + classify. Related: Declassified; declassifying; declassification.ETD declassify (v.).2
mid-15c., declinson, in grammar, "the inflection of nouns, pronouns, and adjectives, especially with a change in form from the nominative case," ultimately from Latin declinationem (nominative declinatio) "a bending from (something), a bending aside; a turning away from (something), an avoiding," also used in the grammatical sense, noun of action from past-participle stem of declinare "to lower; avoid, deviate; bend from, inflect," from de "from" (see de-) + clinare "to bend" (from PIE *klein-, suffixed form of root *klei- "to lean").ETD declension (n.).2
The immediate source of the English word is perhaps in French (compare Old French declinaison), but "the form is irregular, and its history obscure" [OED]. Meaning "a sloping downward" is from 1640s; that of "a sinking or falling into a lower or inferior state" is from c. 1600; that of "courteous refusal, non-acceptance" is by 1817. Related: Declensional.ETD declension (n.).3
late 14c., declinacioun, in astronomy, "distance of a heavenly body from the celestial equator, measured on a great circle passing through the body and the celestial pole," from Old French declinacion (Modern French déclinaison) and directly from Latin declinationem (nominative declinatio) "a bending from (something), a bending aside; the supposed slope of the earth toward the poles; a turning away from (something), an avoiding," noun of action from past-participle stem of declinare (see decline (v.)). From c. 1400 as "a bending or sloping downward." Related: Declinational.ETD declination (n.).2
late 14c., "to turn aside, deviate" (a sense now archaic), also "sink to a lower level," and, figuratively, "fall to an inferior or impaired condition," from Old French decliner "to sink, decline, degenerate, turn aside," from Latin declinare "to lower; avoid, deviate; bend from, inflect," from de "from" (see de-) + clinare "to bend" (from PIE *klein-, suffixed form of root *klei- "to lean").ETD decline (v.).2
In grammar, "to inflect as a noun or adjective," from late 14c. The sense has been altered by interpretation of de- as "downward;" intransitive meaning "to bend or slant down" is from c. 1400. Sense of "not to consent, politely refuse or withhold consent to do" is from 1630s. Related: Declined; declining.ETD decline (v.).3
early 14c., "deterioration, degeneration, a sinking into an impaired or inferior condition," from Old French declin, from decliner "to sink, decline, degenerate" (see decline (v.)). Meaning "the time of life when physical and mental powers are failing" is short for decline of life (by 1711).ETD decline (n.).2
"a downward slope," 1610s, from French déclivité, from Latin declivitatem (nominative declivitas) "a slope, declivity," from declivis "a sloping downward," from de "down" (see de-) + clivus "a slope," from PIE *klei-wo-, suffixed form of root *klei- "to lean."ETD declivity (n.).2
late 14c., decoccioun, "liquor in which an animal or vegetable substance has been boiled;" early 15c., "act of boiling in water," from Old French décoction (13c.) or directly from Latin decoctionem (nominative decoctio) "a boiling down," noun of action from past-participle stem of decoquere "to boil down," from de "down" (see de-) + coquere "to cook" (from PIE root *pekw- "to cook, ripen").ETD decoction (n.).2
early 15c., "prepare by boiling," from Latin decoctus, past participle of decoquere "to boil down," from de "down" (see de-) + coquere "to cook" (from PIE root *pekw- "to cook, ripen"). Related: Decocted; decocting.ETD decoct (v.).2
"decipher or translate a coded message," 1896, from de- + code (v.). Related: Decoded; decoding; decoder.ETD decode (v.).2
1650s, "to allure or entice;" 1670s, "to lure (someone or something) into a trap or snare, entrap by allurements," from decoy (n.). Related: Decoyed; decoying.ETD decoy (v.).2
1610s, "a swindler;" 1650s, "anything intended to lead (someone) into a snare;" 1660s, "a lure employed in enticing game into a snare or within range of a weapon;" perhaps from Dutch kooi "cage," used of a pond surrounded by nets, into which wildfowl were lured for capture, from West Germanic *kaiwa, from Latin cavea "cage" (from cavus "a hollow" (from PIE root *keue- "to swell," also "vault, hole").ETD decoy (n.).2
The first element is possibly the Dutch definite article de, mistaken in English as part of the word. If this is right, the later sense in English is the etymological one. But decoy, of unknown origin, was the name of a card game popular c. 1550-1650, and this may have influenced the form of the word.ETD decoy (n.).3
"act of beheading," late 14c., decollacioun, from Old French decollacion, from Latin decollationem (nominative decollatio) "a beheading," noun of action from past-participle stem of decollare "to behead," from de "off, away" (see de-) + collum "neck" (see collar (n.)). In modern use, in surgery, "removal of the head of the child in cases of difficult birth." Related: Decollate; decollated; decollator.ETD decollation (n.).2
of women's fashionable dress, "low-necked," 1831, from French décolleté, past participle of décolleter "to bare the neck and shoulders," from dé- "off, away from" (see de-) + collet "collar of a dress," diminutive of col "neck," from Latin collum, from PIE root *kwel- (1) "revolve, move round."ETD decollete (adj.).2
By extension, of a dressed woman, "having the neck and shoulders exposed." Middle English had an equivalent and partially nativized adjective, decoloured (mid-15c.). Not to be confused with decollate (v.), which means "to behead" (see decollation).ETD decollete (adj.).3
1888, "low-cut neck of a bodice" (from 1883 as a French word in English), from French décolletage, from décolleté "low-necked" (see decollete). Hence also "exposure of the neck and shoulders" (1894).ETD decolletage (n.).2
1853 in a political sense, "remove (a place) from colonial status," American English, from de- + colonization. Earlier as a medical term (from colon (n.2)).ETD decolonization (n.).2
"to rid of the system or qualities of colonialism," by 1955; see de- + colonial + -ize. Related: Decolonialization.ETD decolonialize (v.).2
"to take (something) out of active service," 1922, originally in reference to warships, from de- + commission (v.) in the nautical sense of "be transferred from the naval yard and placed in the command of an officer." Related: Decommissioned; decommissioning.ETD decommission (v.).2
"lack or loss of compensation," especially, in medicine, "deterioration of a structure that had worked through compensation," 1900, from de- + compensation.ETD decompensation (n.).2
"lose the ability to maintain compensation," 1912, probably a back-formation from decompensation. Related: Decompensated; decompensating.ETD decompensate (v.).2
"capable of being resolved into constituent elements," 1784; see decompose + -able. Related: Decomposability.ETD decomposable (adj.).2
"a decomposing agent," 1821, agent noun from decompose.ETD decomposer (n.).2
1750s, "to separate into components," from de- "opposite of" + compose (v.) in the sense of "make or form by uniting two or more things." Sense of "putrefy, become resolved into constituent elements" is by 1777. Related: Decomposed; decomposing.ETD decompose (v.).2
"act or process of separating the constituent elements of a compound body; state of being decomposed,"1762, from de- "the opposite of" + composition. An earlier word in the same form meant "further compounding of already composite things" (1650s; see decomposite).ETD decomposition (n.).2
1650s, "compounded a second time, compounded from things already composite," from Late Latin compositus, in grammar (rendering Greek parasynthetos), "formed from a compound," literally "placed together," past participle of componere "to put together, to collect a whole from several parts," from com "with, together" (see com-) + ponere "to place" (past participle positus; see position (n.)). Earlier in English as a noun, "something compounded of composite things" (1620s). Middle English had decompound (adj.) in grammar (mid-15c.).ETD decomposite (adj.).2
"process of relieving or reducing pressure," 1905, from de- + compression. Decompression chamber is attested by 1903.ETD decompression (n.).2
"relieve or reduce pressure," by 1866, from de- + compress (v.). In early use especially "restore gradually to normal conditions of air pressure." Figurative sense "become calm, relax" is by 1964. Related: Decompressed; decompressing.ETD decompress (v.).2
"spread or scatter from a point or center," 1879, from de- "do the opposite of" + concentrate (v.). Related: Deconcentrated; deconcentration; deconcentration (1848).ETD deconcentrate (v.).2
"reverse or remove conditioned reflexes from," 1914, from de- "do the opposite of" + condition (v.). Related: Deconditioned; deconditioning.ETD decondition (v.).2
"a decongestive agent," by 1950; see de- + congest + -ant. Related: Decongestion (1901); decongest (v.), by 1912; decongestive (adj.), by 1922.ETD decongestant (n.).2
1973 as a strategy of critical analysis, in translations from French of the works of philosopher Jacques Derrida (1930-2004). The word was used in English in a literal sense from 1865 of building and architecture, "a taking to pieces," and in late 1860s sometimes as an ironic variant of Reconstruction in the U.S. political sense. Related: Deconstructionism; deconstructionist.ETD deconstruction (n.).2
"undo the construction of, take to pieces," 1973, a back-formation from deconstruction (q.v.). Related: Deconstructed; deconstructing.ETD deconstruct (v.).2
"remove the contamination from," 1936, from de- "do the opposite of" + contaminate (v.). Originally in reference to poison gas. Related: Decontaminated; decontaminating; decontamination.ETD decontaminate (v.).2
"study or treat something in isolation from its context," by 1971, from de- "do the opposite of" + contextualize "put into context" (see contextual). Related: Decontextualized; decontextualizing; decontextualization.ETD decontextualize (v.).2
"removal of (government) control," 1919, from de- + control (n.).ETD decontrol (n.).2
"one whose business is the decoration of dwellings or public edifices," 1700, agent noun in Latin form from decorate.ETD decorator (n.).2
1897, "scenery and furnishings," from French décor (18c.), back-formation from décorer "to decorate" (14c.), from Latin decorare "to decorate, adorn, embellish, beautify," from decus (genitive decoris) "an ornament," from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept" (on the notion of "to add grace"). The modern word thus duplicates Latin decor "beauty, elegance, charm, grace, ornament."ETD decor (n.).2
Originally in English in reference to theater stages; home-decor is by 1900 in reference to copies of old masters paintings used as home decoration; general use for "decorations and furnishings of a room, building, etc." is by 1926.ETD decor (n.).3
1520s, "deck with something becoming or ornamental, adorn, beautify," from Latin decoratus, past participle of decorare "to decorate, adorn, embellish, beautify," from decus (genitive decoris) "an ornament; grace, dignity, honor," from PIE root *dek- "to take, accept."ETD decorate (v.).2
Earlier was decoren (early 15c.) with past-participle adjective decorat. Meaning "confer distinction upon by means of a badge or medal of honor" is from 1816. Related: Decorated; decorating.ETD decorate (v.).3