WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : De*cay"
Part of Speech : v.
Etymology : [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. d?choir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.]
Definition : Defn: To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.

i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying.]
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : De*cay"
Part of Speech : v.
Definition : 1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.] Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak.

2. To destroy. [Obs.] Shak.

t.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913

Pronunciation : De*cay"
Part of Speech : n.
Definition : 1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay. Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more -May strengthen my decays. Herbert. His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay. Macaulay. Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. James Byrne.

2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. Cause of decay. [R.] He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. Bacon.

Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913