DECRESCENDO
De`cres*cen"do, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: With decreasing volume of sound; — a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign.
DECRESCENT
De*cres"cent, a. Etym: [L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. See
Decrease.]
Defn: Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a decrescent moon.
DECRESCENT
De*cres"cent, n. (Her.)
Defn: A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister.
Cussans.
DECRETAL
De*cre"tal, a. Etym: [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.]
Defn: Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle. Ayliffe.
DECRETAL
De*cre"tal, n. Etym: [LL. decretale, neut. of L. decretalis. See
Decretal, a.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)