Decoyer
(De*coy"er) n. One who decoys another.
Decoy-man
(De*coy"-man`) n.; pl. Decoy-men A man employed in decoying wild fowl.
Decrease
(De*crease") v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decreased ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decreasing.] [OE. decrecen,
fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître, or from the OF. noun fr. L. decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to
grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase.] 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. Syn. — 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. Decrease
(De*crease"), v. t. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases
one's means.
That might decrease their present store.
Prior. Decrease
(De*crease"), n. [OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See Decrease, v.]
1. A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
2. The wane of the moon. Bacon.
Decreaseless
(De*crease"less), a. Suffering no decrease. [R.]
It [the river] flows and flows, and yet will flow,
Volume decreaseless to the final hour.
A. Seward. Decreasing
(De*creas"ing), a. Becoming less and less; diminishing. — De*creas"ing*ly, adv.
Decreasing series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding
term.
Decreation
(De`cre*a"tion) n. Destruction; — opposed to creation. [R.] Cudworth.
Decree
(De*cree") n. [OE. decre, F. décret, fr. L. decretum, neut. decretus, p. p. of decernere to
decide; de- + cernere to decide. See Certain, and cf. Decreet, Decretal.]
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." Sh.
There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
Luke ii. 1.
Poor hand, why quiverest thou at this decree?
Shak.
