Decrease and Alter

decrease

A change downward.
- usage: "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
- synonyms: lessening, drop-off
A process of becoming smaller or shorter.
- synonyms: decrement
The amount by which something decreases.
- synonyms: decrement
The act of decreasing or reducing something.
- synonyms: diminution, reduction, step-down

Decrease in size, extent, or range.
- usage: "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
- synonyms: diminish, lessen, fall
Make smaller.
- usage: "He decreased his staff"
- synonyms: lessen, minify

(v.t.) To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
(v.) A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
(n.) To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc. or in strength, quality or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
(v.) The wane of the moon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

alter

Cause to change; make different; cause a transformation.
- usage: "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
- synonyms: change, modify
Become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence.
- usage: "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season"
- synonyms: change, vary
Make an alteration to.
- usage: "This dress needs to be altered"
Insert words into texts, often falsifying it thereby.
- synonyms: interpolate, falsify
Remove the ovaries of.
- usage: "Is your cat spayed"
- synonyms: neuter, spay, castrate

(v.t.) To agitate; to affect mentally.
(v.t.) To geld.
(v.i.) To become, in some respects, different; to vary; to change; as, the weather alters almost daily; rocks or minerals alter by exposure.
(v.t.) To make otherwise; to change in some respect, either partially or wholly; to vary; to modify.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(latin) alter - Another person; personality ofanother

Alter is a masculine given name