DECEIVING. "You are _deceiving_ me." Not unfrequently _deceiving_ is used when the speaker means _trying to deceive_. It is when we do not suspect deception that we are deceived.
DECIMATE. This word, meaning as it properly does to tithe, to take the tenth part, is hardly permissible in the sense in which it is used in such sentences as, "The regiment held its position, though terribly _decimated_ by the enemy's artillery." "Though terribly _tithed_" would be equally correct.
DEMEAN. This word is sometimes erroneously used in the sense of _to debase_, _to disgrace_, _to humble_. It is a reflexive verb, and its true meaning is _to behave_, _to carry_, _to conduct_; as, "He _demeans himself_ in a gentlemanly manner," i. e., He _behaves_, or _carries_, or _conducts_, himself in a gentlemanly manner.
DENUDE. "The vulture," says Brande, "has some part of the head and sometimes of the neck _denuded_ of feathers." Most birds might be _denuded_ of the feathers on their heads; not so, however, the vulture, for his head is always featherless. A thing can not be _denuded_ of what it does not have. Denuding a vulture's head and neck of the feathers is like _denuding_ an eel of its scales.
DEPRECATE. Strangely enough, this word is often used in the sense of disapprove, censure, condemn; as, "He _deprecates_ the whole proceeding"; "Your course, from first to last, is universally _deprecated_." But, according to the authorities, the word really means, to endeavor to avert by prayer; to pray exemption or deliverance from; to beg off; to entreat; to urge against.
"Daniel kneeled upon his knees to _deprecate_ the captivity of his people."--Hewyt.
DESPITE. This word is often incorrectly preceded by _in_ and followed by _of_; thus, "_In_ despite _of_ all our efforts to detain him, he set out"; which should be, "Despite all our efforts," etc., or "_In spite of_ all our efforts," etc.
DICTION. This is a general term, and is applicable to a single sentence or to a connected composition. _Bad diction_ may be due to errors in grammar, to a confused disposition of words, or to an improper use of words. _Diction_, to be good, requires to be only correct and clear. Of excellent examples of bad diction there are very many in a little work by Dr. L. T. Townsend, Professor of Sacred Rhetoric in Boston University, the first volume of which has lately come under my notice. The first ten lines of Dr. Townsend's preface are: