BharatNotes Decadence
nounUsage in a UPSC answer
Critics of the late Mughal polity argue that administrative decadence — bloated courts, fiscal profligacy and the erosion of meritocratic norms — hollowed out the empire long before any external power delivered its decisive blow.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
decadent (adj/n), decadently (adv), decadency (n), decadentism (n)
Root
Latin de- = down + cadere = to fall; via Medieval Latin decadentia = a falling away
Etymology
From French décadence (early 15th century), from Medieval Latin decadentia ("a falling away, decay"), from decadens, present participle of decadere ("to decay"), combining Latin de- ("down, apart") and cadere ("to fall").
Memory Hook
Hear "DE-CADE" (de- + cadere, "to fall down"): picture a once-great civilisation that, over the decades, falls into self-indulgent decay — a "decade of falling" standards.
Tip: press Alt+S to hear pronunciation
