Decrease and Taboo

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

• A prejudice (especially in Polynesia and other South Pacific islands) that prohibits the use or mention of something because of its sacred nature.
  • synonyms: tabu
• An inhibition or ban resulting from social custom or emotional aversion.
  • synonyms: tabu

verb

• Declare as sacred and forbidden.

adjective

• Excluded from use or mention.
  • usage: "forbidden fruit"; "in our house dancing and playing cards were out"; "a taboo subject"
  • synonyms: forbidden, out, prohibited, proscribed, tabu, verboten
• Forbidden to profane use especially in South Pacific islands.
  • synonyms: tabu

• (a.) Set apart or sacred by religious custom among certain races of Polynesia, New Zealand, etc., and forbidden to certain persons or uses; hence, prohibited under severe penalties; interdicted; as, food, places, words, customs, etc., may be taboo.
• (v.t.) To put under taboo; to forbid or to forbid the use of; to interdict approach to or use of; as, to taboo the ground set apart as a sanctuary for criminals.
• (n.) A total prohibition of intercourse with, use of or approach to, a given person or thing under pain of death, -- an interdict of religious origin and authority, formerly common in the islands of Polynesia; interdiction.