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Added 9 October 2026

decay

/dɪˈkeɪ/ noun

In Latin: cariēs, tābēs Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about decay at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The process of gradually becoming inferior.
A gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current.
The organic phenomenon of rotting.

verb

Lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current.
the particles disintegrated during the nuclear fission process
Fall into decay or ruin.
The unoccupied house started to decay
Undergo decay or decomposition.
The body started to decay and needed to be cremated

Origin

From Middle English decaien (“to decrease, diminish”) and decai (“deterioration, decline in value”), from Anglo-Norman decaeir (“to fall away, decay, decline”), from Vulgar Latin *dēcadere, etymologically restored form of Latin dēcidere (“to fall down, to fail, sink or perish”), from de- (“of, from, away, down”) + cadere (“to fall”). Compare decadent and decadence.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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