1540s, from Middle French décadence (early 15c.), from Medieval Latin decadentia "decay," from decadentem (nominative decadens) "decaying," present participle of decadere "to decay," from Latin de- "apart, down" (see de-) + cadere "to fall" (see case (n.1)). Used of periods in art since 1852, on French model.
雙語(yǔ)例句
1. The empire had for years been falling into decadence.
這個(gè)帝國(guó)走向腐朽墮落已經(jīng)經(jīng)年。
來(lái)自柯林斯例句
2. The country, they say, will inevitably now plunge headlong into decadence.