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2 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 :   [ gcide ]

  Decrement \Dec"re*ment\, n. [L. decrementum, fr. decrescere. See
     Decrease.]
     1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease;
        diminution; waste; loss.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Twit me with the decrements of my pendants. --Ford.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the
              earth suffer a continual decrement.   --Woodward.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; --
        opposed to increment.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Crystallog.) A name given by Ha["u]y to the successive
        diminution of the layers of molecules, applied to the
        faces of the primitive form, by which he supposed the
        secondary forms to be produced.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Math.) The quantity by which a variable is diminished.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Equal decrement of life.
        (a) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which
            the assumed law of mortality is such that of a given
            large number of persons, all being now of the same
            age, an equal number shall die each consecutive year.
        (b) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which
            the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of
            those dying in a year to those living through the year
            is constant, being independent of the age of the
            persons.
            [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) :   [ web1913 ]

  Decrement \Dec"re*ment\, n. [L. decrementum, fr. decrescere. See
     Decrease.]
     1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease;
        diminution; waste; loss.
  
              Twit me with the decrements of my pendants. --Ford.
  
              Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the
              earth suffer a continual decrement.   --Woodward.
  
     2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; --
        opposed to increment.
  
     3. (Crystallog.) A name given by Ha["u]y to the successive
        diminution of the layers of molecules, applied to the
        faces of the primitive form, by which he supposed the
        secondary forms to be produced.
  
     4. (Math.) The quantity by which a variable is diminished.
  
     Equal decrement of life.
        (a) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which
            the assumed law of mortality is such that of a given
            large number of persons, all being now of the same
            age, an equal number shall die each consecutive year.
        (b) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which
            the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of
            those dying in a year to those living through the year
            is constant, being independent of the age of the
            persons.

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