Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “decrease” come from?

Decrease comes from Middle English discresen, from Old French descreistre, from Latin decrescere, meaning to grow less, derived from de- and cresco, to grow, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-.

decrease (English): Of a quantity, to become smaller; To make ...

Definitions

  1. Of a quantity, to become smaller; To make ...

Ancestry of “decrease”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdecresen—
2Middle Englishdiscresen—
3Old Frenchdescreistreto decrease; to lessen; to diminish
4Latindecrēscere—

Words derived from “decrease”

  • decreasing
  • decreasingly
  • nondecreasing
  • decreaseth
  • decreaser
  • undecreasing
  • decreasement
  • nondecrease
  • decreasable
  • decreaseless
  • decreasest
Every word from Latin decrēscere →