discresen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• decrece, decrese, decresen, decresse, discrece, discrecen, discreese, discres, discrese, discresse
• dyscres (East Anglia)

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman descreistre, descrestre, alteration of Latin dēcrēscō, dēcrēscere. Equivalent to dis- +‎ cresen, but sometimes remodelled as if de- +‎ cresen due to Latin influence.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /disˈkrɛːsən/, /disˈkrɛsən/, /dɛː-/

Verb

discresen (third-person singular simple present discreseth, present participle discresende, discresynge, first-/third-person singular past indicative and past participle discresed)

1. To decrease in size, number, or extent.
2. To diminish or weaken; to decrease in magnitude.
3. To cause to decrease or diminish.

Conjugation

Conjugation of discresen (weak in -ede)

infinitive	(to) discresen, discrese
	present tense	past tense
1st-person singular	discrese	discresed(e)
2nd-person singular	discresest	discresedest
3rd-person singular	discreseth	discresed(e)
subjunctive singular	discrese
imperative singular		—
plural1	discresen, discrese	discreseden, discresed(e)
imperative plural	discreseth, discrese	—
participles	discresynge, discresende	discresed

¹ Sometimes used as a formal 2nd-person singular.

Related terms

• discres

Descendants

• English: decrease

References

• “dēcrēsen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.