decrease English · revision 7066

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1383|origins=la decresco}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈkɹiːs/, /ˈdiːkɹiːs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English decresen, from Anglo-French decreiss-, the stem of decreistre, Old French [[m|fro|descroistre|t=to decrease]] (modern French décroître),^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) from Vulgar Latin *discrēscere, for Latin [[m|la|decresco|alt=dēcrēscere|t=to grow less]],^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) from [[m|la|de|t=down, away]] and [[m|la|cresco|alt=crēscere|t=to grow]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from PIE [[ine-pro|*ḱreh₁-|alt=*ker-|t=to grow]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, a lessening: 1383 in the OED;^(OED 1989) detriment or harm in the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The verb, to grow less, is from 1393 in the OED, the early 15th century in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The transitive verb, to make less, is from the late 15th century (about 1470).^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The wane of the moon is an obsolete sense of 1626.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1383 – a lessening (noun).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1393 – to grow less.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1470 – to make less.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1626 – the wane of the moon (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To become or make smaller or fewer; to [[diminish]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A lessening or reduction.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The amount by which something is reduced.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[decreasingly]]

+ * [[nondecreasing]]

+ * [[undecreasing]]

+ * [[undecreased]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[decrescendo]]

+ * [[increase]]

+ * [[crescent]]

+ * [[create]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}