purposely-decreased
|pur-pose-ly-de-creased|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈpɜːrpəsli dɪˈkriːst/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɜːpəsli dɪˈkriːst/
(decrease)
reduce in size or amount
Etymology
Etymology Information
'decrease' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'decrescere,' where 'de-' meant 'down' and 'crescere' meant 'to grow.'
Historical Evolution
'decrescere' transformed into the Old French word 'decreistre,' and eventually became the modern English word 'decrease' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to grow less,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to reduce in size or amount.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
intentionally reduced in size, amount, or degree.
The company implemented a purposely-decreased budget to cut costs.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/28 17:11