loss
"cut down" or "cut down on":
1. (when intr, often foll by on) to reduce or make a reduction (in):
to cut down on drink.
2. reduce, decrease:
I want to cut down my caffeine intake; We have to cut down on our expenses.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English los destruction; cognate with Old Norse los looseness, breaking up. See lose, loose. British dictionary: C14: noun probably formed from lost, past participle of losen to perish, from Old English lōsian to be destroyed, from los destruction. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use: 13th century. History and Etymology: Middle English los, probably back-formation from lost, past participle of losen to lose. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 23 August 2020 {9:07 PM}
1. (when intr, often foll by on) to reduce or make a reduction (in):
to cut down on drink.
2. reduce, decrease:
I want to cut down my caffeine intake; We have to cut down on our expenses.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English los destruction; cognate with Old Norse los looseness, breaking up. See lose, loose. British dictionary: C14: noun probably formed from lost, past participle of losen to perish, from Old English lōsian to be destroyed, from los destruction. —Dictionary.com. //
First Known Use: 13th century. History and Etymology: Middle English los, probably back-formation from lost, past participle of losen to lose. —Merriam-Webster.
Sources: 1, 2.
Updated: 23 August 2020 {9:07 PM}