1. (n.) Reduction in size, quantity, or degree; the act of diminishing\, or of making or becoming less; state of being diminished; -- opposed to augmentation or increase.

2. (n.) The act of lessening dignity or consideration, or the state of being deprived of dignity; a lowering in estimation; degradation; abasement.

3. (n.) Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record.

4. (n.) In counterpoint, the imitation of, or reply to, a subject, in notes of half the length or value of those the subject itself.

abatement abridgment allayment alleviation analgesia anesthesia anesthetizing appeasement assuagement attenuation attrition blunting calming concavity contraction curtailment cut cutting dampening damping de-escalation deadening debasement decrease decrement decrescence deduction deflation degradation demotion demulsion depletion depreciation depression derogation descent detraction detrusion diminishment dip disparagement ducking dulcification dulling dying dying off ease easement easing extenuation extraction fade-out falling-off hauling down hollowness hushing impairment languishment leniency lessening letdown letup lightening loosening lowering lulling miniaturization mitigation modulation mollification numbing pacification palliation quietening quieting reduction relaxation relief remedy remission retraction retrenchment sagging salving scaling down shortening shrinkage simplicity sinking slackening softening soothing subduement submergence subtraction tempering thrusting under tranquilization truncation weakening