Hypertext Webster Gateway: "decay"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Decay \De*cay"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Decayed}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Decaying}.] [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. d['e]choir,
to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See
{Chance}.]
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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Decay \De*cay"\, v. t.
1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]
Infirmity, that decays the wise. --Shak.
2. To destroy. [Obs.] --Shak.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Decay \De*cay"\, n.
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}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
decay
n 1: the process of gradually becoming inferior
2: a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current [syn: {decline}]
3: the organic phenomenon of rotting [syn: {decomposition}]
4: an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying;
"the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house
had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
5: the spontaneous disintegration of a radioactive substance
along with the emission of ionizing radiation [syn: {radioactive
decay}, {disintegration}]
v 1: lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current; of
particles [syn: {disintegrate}, {decompose}]
2: fall into decay or ruin; "The unoccupied house started to
decay" [syn: {crumble}, {delapidate}]
3: undergo decay or decomposition
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