From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Decrease \De*crease"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Decreased}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Decreasing}.] [OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F.
d['e]cro[^i]tre, 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}.
Usage: 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]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
decreased \decreased\ 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]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
decreased
adj 1: made less in size or amount or degree [syn: {decreased},
{reduced}] [ant: {increased}]
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