v. i.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30.
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 ]
v. t. To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually;
That might decrease their present store. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See Decrease, v. ]
adj. made less in size or amount or degree. Opposite of
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. --
Decreasing series (Math.),
n. Destruction; -- opposed to creation. [ R. ] Cudworth. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee. Job xxii. 28. [ 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. ]
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 ]
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 ]