Decrease and Excision

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

excision

The omission that is made when an editorial change shortens a written passage.
- usage: "an editor's deletions frequently upset young authors"; "both parties agreed on the excision of the proposed clause"
- synonyms: deletion, cut
Surgical removal of a body part or tissue.
- synonyms: ablation, extirpation, cutting out
The act of banishing a member of a church from the communion of believers and the privileges of the church; cutting a person off from a religious society.
- synonyms: excommunication
The act of pulling up or out; uprooting; cutting off from existence.
- synonyms: extirpation, deracination

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary