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

Definitions

  1. Of a quantity, to become smaller

Ancestry of “decrease”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdecresen—
2Middle EnglishdiscresenTo decrease in size, number, or extent
3Old Frenchdescreistreto decrease; to lessen; to diminish
4Latindecrēscere—

Words derived from “decrease”

Every word from Latin decrēscere →Every word from Old French descreistre →Every word from Middle English discresen →