Decrease and Handicap

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

• The condition of being unable to perform as a consequence of physical or mental unfitness.
  • usage: "reading disability"; "hearing impairment"
  • synonyms: disability, disablement, impairment
• Advantage given to a competitor to equalize chances of winning.
• Something immaterial that interferes with or delays action or progress.
  • synonyms: hindrance, hinderance, deterrent, impediment, balk, baulk, check

verb

• Injure permanently.
  • usage: "He was disabled in a car accident"
  • synonyms: disable, invalid, incapacitate
• Attempt to forecast the winner (especially in a horse race) and assign odds for or against a contestant.
• Put at a disadvantage.
  • usage: "The brace I have to wear is hindering my movements"
  • synonyms: hinder, hamper

• (n.) A race, for horses or men or any contest of agility, strength or skill, in which there is an allowance of time, distance, weight or other advantage, to equalize the chances of the competitors.
• (v.t.) To encumber with a handicap in any contest; hence, in general, to place at disadvantage; as, the candidate was heavily handicapped.
• (n.) An old game at cards.
• (n.) An allowance of a certain amount of time or distance in starting, granted in a race to the competitor possessing inferior advantages; or an additional weight or other hindrance imposed upon the one possessing superior advantages, in order to equalize, as much as possible, the chances of success; as, the handicap was five seconds or ten pounds, and the like.

As defined in the fair housing act, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities (walking, seeing, learning, working) or a record of having such an impairment or being regarded as having such impairment.' handicap' does not include current, illegal use or addiction to a controlled substance. (See disability).