Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Of or relating to a ten-year period.
- n. A period of ten years; a decade.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. A period of ten years.
- Consisting of or involving ten each; relating to a tithing.
- n. In old English law, a tithing consisting of ten freeholders and their families.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. A period of ten years.
- n. A tithing consisting of ten neighboring families.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a period of 10 years
Etymologies
- From Latin decennis, lasting for ten years; see decennium.
Examples
“And therefore, anciently, no man was suffered to abide in England above forty days, unless he were enrolled in some tithing or decennary.”
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 12, No. 322, July 12, 1828
“Thirty-one days were allowed them for producing the criminal; and if that time elapsed without their being able to find him, the borsholder, with two other members of the decennary, was obliged to appear, and, together with three chief members of the three neighboring decennaries,”
“When any person, in any tithing or decennary, was guilty of a crime, the borsholder was summoned to answer for him; and if he were not willing to be surety for his appearance, and his clearing himself, the criminal was committed to prison, and there detained till his trial.”
“The administration of justice, in particular, by the courts of the decennary, the hundred, and the county, was well calculated to defend general liberty, and to restrain the power of the nobles.”
“The borsholder summoned together his whole decennary to assist him in deciding any lesser differences which occurred among the members of this small community.”
“If he fled, either before or after finding sureties, the borsholder and decennary became liable to inquiry, and were exposed to the penalties of law.”
“And beside these monthly meetings of the hundred, there was an annual meeting, appointed for a more general inspection of the police of the district; for the inquiry into crimes, the correction of abuses in magistrates, and the obliging of every person to show the decennary in which he was registered.”
“Sure, i got going on my decennary review way back when others had actual contemporary ideas to work on (though possibly not as early as Pitchfork), but they're fast catching up a mere six weeks from the cut-off point for hurried evaluation.”
“(making twelve in all,) to swear that his decennary was free from all privity, both of the crime committed, and of the escape of the criminal.”
“If the borsholder could not find such a number to answer for their innocence, the decennary was compelled by fine to make satisfaction to the king, according to the degree of the offence. [”
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