Part 2828

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A person employed by officers of justice, or parties exposed to injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under circumstances that will lead to his detection.</def>

<h1>Decoy-duck</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*coy"-duck`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A duck used to lure wild ducks into a decoy; hence, a person employed to lure others into danger.</def>

<i>Beau. & Fl.</i>

<h1>Decoyer</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*coy"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who decoys another.</def>

<h1>Decoy-man</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*coy"-man`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Decoy-men</plw> <tt>(<?/)</tt>.</plu> <def>A man employed in decoying wild fowl.</def>

<h1>Decrease</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*crease"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Decreased</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Decreasing</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>decrecen</ets>, fr. OF. <ets>decreistre</ets>, F. <ets>d\'82cro\'8ctre</ets>, or from the OF. noun (see <er>Decrease</er>, <tt>n.</tt>), fr. L. <ets>decrescere</ets> to grow less; <ets>de</ets> + <ets>crescere</ets> to grow. See <er>Crescent</er>, and cf. <er>Increase</er>.]</ety> <def>To grow less, -- opposed to <i>increase</i>; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; <as>as, they days <ex>decrease</ex> in length from June to December</as>.</def>

<blockquote>He must increase, but I must <b>decrease</b>. <i>John iii. 30.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- To <er>Decrease</er>, <er>Diminish</er>.</syn> <usage> Things usually <i>decrease</i> or fall off by degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is imperceptible; as, the flood <ex>decreases</ex>; the cold <i>decreases</i>; their affection has <i>decreased</i>. Things commonly <i>diminish</i> by an influence from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was <ex>diminished</ex> by disease; his property is <i>diminishing</i> through extravagance; their affection has <i>diminished</i> since their separation their separation. The turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be interchanged.</usage>

<blockquote>The olive leaf, which certainly them told The flood <b>decreased</b>. <i>Drayton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Crete's ample fields <b>diminish</b> to our eye; Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Decrease</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*crease"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; <as>as, extravagance <ex>decreases</ex> one's means</as>.</def>

<blockquote>That might <b>decrease</b> their present store. <i>Prior.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Decrease</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*crease"</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>decrees</ets>, OF. <ets>decreis</ets>, fr. <ets>decreistre</ets>. See <er>Decrease</er>, <tt>v.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; <as>as, a <ex>decrease</ex> of revenue or of strength</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The wane of the moon.</def>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<h1>Decreaseless</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*crease"less</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Suffering no decrease.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>It [the river] flows and flows, and yet will flow, Volume <b>decreaseless</b> to the final hour. <i>A. Seward.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Decreasing</h1> <Xpage=378>

<hw>De*creas"ing</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Becoming less and less; diminishing.</def> -- <wordforms><wf>De*creas"ing*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt></wordforms>

<cs><col>Decreasing series</col> <fld>(Math.)</fld>, <cd>a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term.</cd></cs>