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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Decrement \Dec"re*ment\, n. [L. decrementum, fr. decrescere. See
{Decrease}.]
1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease;
diminution; waste; loss.
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Twit me with the decrements of my pendants. --Ford.
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Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the
earth suffer a continual decrement. --Woodward.
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2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; --
opposed to {increment}.
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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.
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4. (Math.) The quantity by which a variable is diminished.
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{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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