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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The wane of the moon. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means. [ 1913 Webster ]

That might decrease their present store. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Decreased p. pr. & vb. n. Decreasing. ] [ OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître, or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The olive leaf, which certainly them told
The flood decreased. Drayton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye;
Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. made less in size or amount or degree. Opposite of increased. [ Narrower terms: attenuate, attenuated, faded, weakened; belittled, diminished, small; cut, cut-rate; diminished, lessened; minimized; remittent; attenuated ]
Syn. -- reduced. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Suffering no decrease. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

It [ the river ] flows and flows, and yet will flow,
Volume decreaseless to the final hour. A. Seward. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Becoming less and less; diminishing. -- De*creas"ing*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Decreasing series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term. [1913 Webster]

n. Destruction; -- opposed to creation. [ R. ] Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

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&unr_;&unr_; decision. “The decrees of Venice.” Sh&unr_;&unr_;&unr_;. [ 1913 Webster ]

There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Luke ii. 1. [ 1913 Webster ]

Poor hand, why quiverest thou at this decree? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) (a) A decision, order, or sentence, given in a cause by a court of equity or admiralty. (b) A determination or judgment of an umpire on a case submitted to him. Brande. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Eccl.) An edict or law made by a council for regulating any business within their jurisdiction; as, the decrees of ecclesiastical councils.

Syn. -- Law; regulation; edict; ordinance. See Law. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decreed p. pr. & vb. n. Decreeing. ] 1. To determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to constitute by edict; to appoint by decree or law; to determine; to order; to ordain; as, a court decrees a restoration of property. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee. Job xxii. 28. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To ordain by fate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To make decrees; -- used absolutely. [ 1913 Webster ]

Father eternal! thine is to decree;
Mine, both in heaven and earth to do thy will. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]