Decay — Defs

01 v. i. To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline;…

imp. & p. p. Decayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying

1.
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 decay.” — Goldsmith.

02 v. t. To cause to decay; to impair.

1.
To cause to decay; to impair.[R.]
“Infirmity, that decays the wise.” — Shak.
2.
To destroy.[Obs.]

03 n. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or e…

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 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.]
3.
Cause of decay.[R.]
“He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age.” — Bacon.

Syn. Decline; consumption. See Decline.