English
decrease
Decrease comes from Old French descreistre ‘to decrease’, from Latin crēscō ‘grow’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱer-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱer-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱreh₁-sḱétireconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcrēscō‘grow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēcrēscōas decrescere‘to grow less or shorter, decrease, wane, dwindle’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400descreistre‘to decrease’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500decresen
- Englishtodaydecrease
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱer-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱreh₁-sḱétireconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcrēscō‘grow’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēcrēscōas decrescere‘to grow less or shorter, decrease, wane, dwindle’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400descreistre‘to decrease’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500decresen
- Englishtodaydecrease
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱer-
create, creative, creator, creature, cereal, creole, procreation, kore, creat, 26 more
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱreh₁-sḱéti
through Latin crēscō ‘grow’
increase, increasing, crescent, increment, croissant, excrement, cru, accretion, 10 more
Today it means
verb Of a quantity, to become smaller.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱer- / decrease