Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Decay
De-cay′
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Decayed
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decaying
.] [OF.
decaeir
, dechaer
, decheoir
, F. déchoir
, to decline, fall, become less; L. de-
+ cadere
to fall. See Chance
.] To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish;
as, a tree
decays
; fortunes decay
; hopes decay
.Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men
Where wealth accumulates and men
decay
. Goldsmith.
De-cay′
,Verb.
T.
1.
To cause to decay; to impair.
[R.]
Infirmity, that
decays
the wise. Shakespeare
2.
To destroy.
[Obs.]
Shak.
De-cay′
,Noun.
1.
Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration;
as, the
decay
of the body; the decay
of virtue; the decay
of the Roman empire; a castle in decay
.Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more –
May strengthen my
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more –
May strengthen my
decays
. Herbert.
His [Johnson’s] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual
decay
. Macaulay.
Which has caused the
decay
of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. James Byrne.
2.
Destruction; death.
[Obs.]
Spenser.
Webster 1828 Edition
Decay
DECA'Y
,Verb.
I.