Meaning

noun the act of causing to become less

noun the act of causing something to move to a lower level

verb move something or somebody to a lower position

originc. 1600, "descend, sink, grow less or lower" (intransitive), from lower (adj.), comparative of low (adj.). Transitive meaning "let down, cause to descend" attested from 1650s. Related: Lowered; lowering. In the transitive sense "to cause to descend" the older verb was low. From Middle English lahghenn, (c. 1200), which continued in use into the 18c.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0