Decrease and Arrest

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

arrest

The act of apprehending (especially apprehending a criminal. )
- usage: "the policeman on the beat got credit for the collar"
- synonyms: apprehension, catch, collar, pinch, taking into custody
The state of inactivity following an interruption.
- usage: "the negotiations were in arrest"; "held them in check"; "during the halt he got some lunch"; "the momentary stay enabled him to escape the blow"; "he spent the entire stop in his seat"
- synonyms: check, halt, hitch, stay, stop, stoppage

Take into custody.
- usage: "the police nabbed the suspected criminals"
- synonyms: collar, nail, apprehend, pick up, nab, cop
Hold back, as of a danger or an enemy; check the expansion or influence of.
- usage: "Arrest the downward trend"; "Check the growth of communism in South East Asia"; "Contain the rebel movement"; "Turn back the tide of communism"
- synonyms: check, turn back, stop, contain, hold back
Attract and fix.
- usage: "His look caught her"; "She caught his eye"; "Catch the attention of the waiter"
- synonyms: catch, get
Cause to stop.
- usage: "Halt the engines"; "Arrest the progress"; "halt the presses"
- synonyms: halt, hold

(v.t.) The taking or apprehending of a person by authority of law; legal restraint; custody. Also, a decree, mandate or warrant.
(v.t.) A scurfiness of the back part of the hind leg of a horse; -- also named rat-tails.
(v.t.) To seize on and fix; to hold; to catch; as, to arrest the eyes or attention.
(v.t.) To rest or fasten; to fix; to concentrate.
(v.t.) Any seizure by power, physical or moral.
(v.t.) To take, seize or apprehend by authority of law; as, to arrest one for debt or for a crime.
(v.t.) To stop; to check or hinder the motion or action of; as, to arrest the current of a river; to arrest the senses.
(v.t.) The act of stopping or restraining from further motion, etc.; stoppage; hindrance; restraint; as, an arrest of development.
(v.i.) To tarry; to rest.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary