| decrease | To grow less, opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc, or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John III. 30) Synonym: To Decrease, Diminish. Things usually decrease or fall off by degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is imperceptible; as, the flood decreases; the cold decreases; their affection has decreased. Things commonly diminish by an influence from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was diminished by disease; his property is diminishing through extravagance; their affection has diminished since their separation their separation. The turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be interchanged. "The olive leaf, which certainly them told The flood decreased." (Drayton) "Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye; Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly." (Pope) Origin: OE. Decrecen, fr. OF. Decreistre, F. Decroitre, or from the OF. Noun (see Decrease,), fr. L. Decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| decreasing | Becoming less and less; diminishing. <mathematics> Decreas"ingly, Decreasing series, a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| decree | 1. An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding what is to be done or to take place; edict, law; authoritative ru decision. "The decrees of Venice." "There went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed." (Luke II. 1) "Poor hand, why quiverest thou at this decree?" (Shak) 2. A decision, order, or sentence, given in a cause by a court of equity or admiralty. A determination or judgment of an umpire on a case submitted to him. 3. An edict or law made by a council for regulating any business within their jurisdiction; as, the decrees of ecclesiastical councils. Synonym: Law, regulation, edict, ordinance. See Law. Origin: OE. Decre, F. Decret, fr. L. Decretum, neut. Decretus, p. P. Of decernere to decide; de- + cernere to decide. See Certain, and cf. Decreet, Decretal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| decrement | 1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease; diminution; waste; loss. "Twit me with the decrements of my pendants." (Ford) "Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth suffer a continual decrement." (Woodward) 2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; opposed to increment. 3. <chemistry> A name given by Hauy to the successive diminution of the layers of molecules, applied to the faces of the primitive form, by which he supposed the secondary forms to be produced. 4. <mathematics> The quantity by which a variable is diminished. Equal decrement of life. The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that of a given large number of persons, all being now of the same age, an equal number shall die each consecutive year. The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of those dying in a year to those living through the year is constant, being independent of the age of the persons. Origin: L. Decrementum, fr. Decrescere. See Decrease. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| decremental conduction | Impaired conduction in a portion of a fibre because of progressively lessening response of the unexcited portion of the fibre to the action potential coming toward it; it is manifested by decreasing speed of conduction, amplitude of action potential, and extent of spread of the impulse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| decrepitation | Crackling; the snapping of certain salts when heated. Origin: L. De, from, + crepo, pp. Crepitus, to crackle (05 Mar 2000) |
| decretal | 1. An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The decretals form the second part of the canon law. 2. The collection of ecclesiastical decrees and decisions made, by order of Gregory IX, in 1234, by St. Raymond of Pennafort. Origin: LL. Decretale, neut. Of L. Decretalis. See Decretal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| decrudescence | Abatement of the symptoms of disease. Origin: L. De, from, + crudesco, to become worse, fr. Crudus, crude (05 Mar 2000) |