decresco Latin · revision 7831

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Cato|origins=la crēscō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [deːˈkreːs.koː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈkrɛs.ko]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēcrēscō''' (present infinitive dēcrēscere, perfect active dēcrēvī, supine dēcrētum); third conjugation, no passive^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[dē-]] “down, away” and [[crēscō]] “to grow”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(TLL)^(Etymonline) Laevius has the participle ⟨dēcrētum⟩.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of waning and ebbing.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to grow smaller, dwindle, as in Cicero and Lucretius, of the moon to wane, of tides to ebb, as in Cato, and in Seneca to seem smaller, and in Tibullus to taper.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) In Martial it meant to decrease in number, of time to grow shorter, and in Juvenal to be subtracted.^(OLD 2012) In Pliny the Elder it meant to lose vigour, decline, in Plautus of feelings to abate, and in Quintilian of a speech to fall off.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to decrease, wane, disappear.^(Stelten 1995) It was borrowed into Italian as ''decrescere'' and Spanish ''decrecer'', and Anglo-French ''decreistre'' gave [[en|decrease]] in the early 15th century.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of waning and ebbing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of dwindling.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 40–102/103 AD – Martial uses it of time growing shorter.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English ''decrease'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To grow smaller, dwindle; to wane, ebb; to taper.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|decrease]]; to be subtracted.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To decline, weaken; to abate.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēcrēmentum]]

+ * [[dēcrēscentia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[crēscō]]

+ * [[en|decrease]]

+ * [[en|decrement]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}