n. 1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more --
May strengthen my decays. Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

His [ Johnson's ] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. James Byrne. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Destruction; death. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Cause of decay. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. Bacon.

Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To cause to decay; to impair. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To destroy. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Decayed p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying. ] [ OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. déchoir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance. ] To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey,
Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. susceptible to decay.
Syn. -- putrescible, putrefiable, spoilable. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman. -- De*cay"ed*ness n. [1913 Webster]

n. A causer of decay. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]