Decrease and Sweeten

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

sweeten

(a.) To soften to the eye; to make delicate.
(a.) To make mild or kind; to soften; as, to sweeten the temper.
(a.) To restore to purity; to free from taint; as, to sweeten water, butter or meat.
(a.) To make warm and fertile; -- opposed to sour; as, to dry and sweeten soils.
(a.) To make sweet to the taste; as, to sweeten tea.
(a.) To make pleasing or grateful to the mind or feelings; as, to sweeten life; to sweeten friendship.
(a.) To make less painful or laborious; to relieve; as, to sweeten the cares of life.
(a.) To make pure and salubrious by destroying noxious matter; as, to sweeten rooms or apartments that have been infected; to sweeten the air.
(v.i.) To become sweet.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary