ETYM Old Fren. abatement, French abattement.
The act of abating.
Law obsolete, unlawful entry by stranger onto land between death of possessor and entry of heir; Heraldry, mark on arms to indicate bastardy.

ETYM Latin decrementum, from decrescere. Related to Decrease.
The amount by which a number is decreased. Compare increment. A gradual decrease in quantity or quality.
1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease; diminution; waste; loss.
2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; -- opposed to increment.
3. A name given 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.
4. The quantity by which a mathematical variable is diminished. + prikaži više

ETYM French détraction, Latin detractio.
A petty disparagement; SYN. petty criticism.
1. A lessening of reputation or esteem especially by envious, malicious, or petty criticism; belittling, disparagement.
2. A taking away.

ETYM Cf. Old Fren. desparagement.
1. A communication that belittles somebody or something; SYN. depreciation, derogation.
2. The act of speaking contemptuously of; SYN. dispraise.

1. The act of causing something to move to a lower level; SYN. letting down.
2. The act of causing to become less.

ETYM French réduction, Latin reductio. Related to Reduce.
In chemistry, the gain of electrons, loss of oxygen, or gain of hydrogen by an atom, ion, or molecule during a chemical reaction.
Reduction may be brought about by reaction with another compound, which is simultaneously oxidized (reducing agent), or electrically at the cathode (negative electrode) of an electric cell.
Photosynthesis—the series of chemical reactions inside chloroplasts—is essentially a mechanism for reducing carbon dioxide to carbohydrate.
1. Any process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen); always occurs accompanied by oxidation of the reducing agent; SYN. reducing.
2. The act of reducing complexity; SYN. simplification. + prikaži više