Decrease and Defeat

noun

• 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

verb

• 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.

noun

• An unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest.
  • usage: "it was a narrow defeat"; "the army's only defeat"; "they suffered a convincing licking"
  • synonyms: licking
• The feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals.
  • synonyms: frustration

verb

• Win a victory over.
  • usage: "You must overcome all difficulties"; "defeat your enemies"; "He overcame his shyness"; "He overcame his infirmity"; "Her anger got the better of her and she blew up"
  • synonyms: get the better of, overcome
• Thwart the passage of.
  • usage: "kill a motion"; "he shot down the student's proposal"
  • synonyms: kill, shoot down, vote down, vote out

• (v.t.) To undo; to disfigure; to destroy.
• (v.t.) To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.
• (v.t.) To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
• (v.t.) To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate.
• (v.) An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.
• (v.) An undoing or annulling; destruction.
• (v.) Frustration by rendering null and void or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.