Decay /(?)/

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.

1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]

   Infirmity, that decays the wise.

2. To destroy. [Obs.]

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.

   His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay.

   Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws.

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.