Part 86

Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth suffer a continual decrement.

Woodward.

2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; -- opposed to increment.

3. (Crystallog.) A name given by Haüy to the successive diminution of the layers of molecules, applied to the faces of the primitive form, by which he supposed the secondary forms to be produced.

4. (Math.) The quantity by which a variable is diminished.

Equal decrement of life. (a) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that of a given large number of persons, all being now of the same age, an equal number shall die each consecutive year. (b) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of those dying in a year to those living through the year is constant, being independent of the age of the persons.

De*crep"it (?), a. [L. decrepitus, perhaps orig., noised out, noiseless, applied to old people, who creep about quietly; de- + crepare to make a noise, rattle: cf. F. décrépit. See Crepitate.] Broken down with age; wasted and enfeebled by the infirmities of old age; feeble; worn out. "Beggary or decrepit age." Milton.

Already decrepit with premature old age.

Motley.

Sometimes incorrectly written decrepid.

De*crep"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decrepitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrepitating.] [Cf. F. décrépiter.] To roast or calcine so as to cause a crackling noise; as, to decrepitate salt.

De*crep"i*tate, v. i. To crackle, as salt in roasting.

De*crep`i*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. décrépitation.] The act of decrepitating; a crackling noise, such as salt makes when roasting.

De*crep"it*ness (?), n. Decrepitude. [R.] Barrow.

De*crep"i*tude (?), n. [Cf. F. décrépitude.] The broken state produced by decay and the infirmities of age; infirm old age.

||De`cres*cen"do (?), a. & adv. [It.] (Mus.) With decreasing volume of sound; -- a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign.

De*cres"cent (?), a. [L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. See Decrease.] Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a decrescent moon.

De*cres"cent, n. (Her.) A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister. Cussans.

De*cre"tal (?), a. [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.] Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle. Ayliffe.

De*cre"tal, n. [LL. decretale, neut. of L. decretalis. See Decretal, a.] 1. (R. C. Ch.) An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The decretals form the second part of the canon law.

2. (Canon Law) The collection of ecclesiastical decrees and decisions made, by order of Gregory IX., in 1234, by St. Raymond of Pennafort.

De*crete" (?), n. [L. decretum. See Decree.] A decree. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*cre"tion (?), n. [From L. decrescere, decretum. See Decrease.] A decrease. [Obs.] Pearson.

De*cre"tist (?), n. [LL. decretista, fr. decretum: cf. F. décrétiste. See Decree, n.] One who studies, or professes the knowledge of, the decretals.

De*cre"tive (?), a. [From L. decretum. See Decree, n.] Having the force of a decree; determining.

The will of God is either decretive or perceptive.

Bates.

Dec`re*to"ri*al (?), a. Decretory; authoritative. Sir T. Browne.