Decrease and Subdue

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.

verb

• Put down by force or intimidation.
  • usage: "The government quashes any attempt of an uprising"; "China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently"; "The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land"
  • synonyms: repress, quash, keep down, subjugate, reduce
• To put down by force or authority.
  • usage: "suppress a nascent uprising"; "stamp down on littering"; "conquer one's desires"
  • synonyms: suppress, stamp down, inhibit, conquer, curb
• Hold within limits and control.
  • usage: "subdue one's appetites"; "mortify the flesh"
  • synonyms: mortify, crucify
• Get on top of; deal with successfully.
  • usage: "He overcame his shyness"
  • synonyms: overcome, get over, surmount, master
• Make subordinate, dependent, or subservient.
  • usage: "Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler"
  • synonyms: subordinate
• Correct by punishment or discipline.
  • synonyms: tame, chasten

• (v.t.) To destroy the force of; to overcome; as, medicines subdue a fever.
• (v.t.) To render submissive; to bring under command; to reduce to mildness or obedience; to tame; as, to subdue a stubborn child; to subdue the temper or passions.
• (v.t.) To reduce to tenderness; to melt; to soften; as, to subdue ferocity by tears.
• (v.t.) To overcome, as by persuasion or other mild means; as, to subdue opposition by argument or entreaties.
• (v.t.) To reduce the intensity or degree of; to tone down; to soften; as, to subdue the brilliancy of colors.
• (v.t.) To overpower so as to disable from further resistance; to crush.
• (v.t.) To make mellow; to break, as land; also, to destroy, as weeds.
• (v.t.) To bring under; to conquer by force or the exertion of superior power, and bring into permanent subjection; to reduce under dominion; to vanquish.