decresce

Decresce is a verb form found in Romance languages, notably Portuguese and Italian. In Portuguese, decresce is the third-person singular present indicative of the verb decrescer, meaning to decrease or diminish. In Italian, decresce is the third-person singular present indicative of decrescere, carrying the same sense of becoming smaller or lesser. The term ultimately derives from Latin decrescere, built from de- (down, away) and crescere (to grow).

Usage and meanings

Decresce is generally used to describe a decline in quantity, value, intensity, or frequency over time. Examples include economic, biological, or observational contexts. Portuguese: “As vendas decrescem trimestre após trimestre.” Italian: “La temperatura decresce durante la notte.” In both languages, the word functions as a straightforward verb and conveys a process of reduction rather than a sudden change.

Musical and technical context

In music, the common dynamic instruction for a gradual decrease in loudness is decrescendo (or decres.). Decresce is not a standard musical term and is rarely, if ever, used as a directive in scores. Its primary usage remains as a descriptive verb rather than a notational marking.

See also

Related terms include decrescente, decrescendo, and crescendo, which describe related dynamics of decreasing and increasing intensity in musical and descriptive contexts.