Diminish

Diminish
Diminish Di*min"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Diminished}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Diminishing}.] [Pref. di- (= L. dis-) + minish: cf. L. diminuere, F. diminuer, OE. diminuen. See {Dis-}, and {Minish}.] 1. To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in bulk or amount; to lessen; -- opposed to {augment} or {increase}. [1913 Webster]

Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt. --Barrow. [1913 Webster]

2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken. [1913 Webster]

This doth nothing diminish their opinion. --Robynson (More's Utopia). [1913 Webster]

I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. --Ezek. xxix. 15. [1913 Webster]

O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished heads. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mus.) To make smaller by a half step; to make (an interval) less than minor; as, a diminished seventh. [1913 Webster]

4. To take away; to subtract. [1913 Webster]

Neither shall ye diminish aught from it. --Deut. iv. 2. [1913 Webster]

{Diminished column}, one whose upper diameter is less than the lower.

{Diminished scale}, or {Diminishing scale}, a scale of gradation used in finding the different points for drawing the spiral curve of the volute. --Gwilt.

{Diminishing rule} (Arch.), a board cut with a concave edge, for fixing the entasis and curvature of a shaft.

{Diminishing stile} (Arch.), a stile which is narrower in one part than in another, as in many glazed doors.

Syn: To decrease; lessen; abate; reduce; contract; curtail; impair; degrade. See {Decrease}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • diminish — UK US /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ verb [I or T] ► to reduce or be reduced in size, importance, or value: »If consumers start losing confidence, it will diminish demand for household goods. »Investors can diversify their holdings in order to diminish risk. »Over a …   Financial and business terms

  • diminish — (v.) early 15c., from merger of two obsolete verbs, diminue and minish. Diminue is from O.Fr. diminuer make small, from L. diminuere break into small pieces, variant of deminuere lessen, diminish, from de completely + minuere make small (see… …   Etymology dictionary

  • diminish — [v1] become or cause to be less abate, abbreviate, attenuate, become smaller, close, contract, curtail, cut, decline, decrease, depreciate, die out, drain, dwindle, ebb, extenuate, fade away, lessen, lower, minify, moderate, peter out, recede,… …   New thesaurus

  • Diminish — Di*min ish, v. i. To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • diminish — I verb abate, abbreviate, abrade, abridge, alleviate, assuage, bate, become smaller, belittle, bound, cause to be smaller, cause to taper, cheapen, compress, consume, contract, curb, curtail, cut back, cut down, damp down, dampen, decelerate,… …   Law dictionary

  • diminish — reduce, *decrease, lessen, abate, dwindle Analogous words: wane, ebb, *abate, subside: *moderate, temper: lighten, alleviate, mitigate (see RELIEVE): attenuate, extenuate (see THIN) Contrasted words: enlarge, augment, *increase: * …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • diminish — ► VERB ▪ make or become less. ● (the law of) diminishing returns Cf. ↑the law of diminishing returns ORIGIN Latin deminuere lessen …   English terms dictionary

  • diminish — [də min′ish] vt. [ME diminishen, a blend of diminuen, to reduce (< OFr diminuer < L diminuere, var. of deminuere < de , from + minuere, to lessen < minus, small) & minishen, to make smaller < OFr menusier < VL * minutiare < L …   English World dictionary

  • diminish — 01. Cooking and freezing do not [diminish] the spicy heat of a hot pepper. 02. The threat of war has [diminished] now that the government has withdrawn its troops from the disputed territory. 03. The Prime Minister refuses to allow the power of… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • diminish */*/ — UK [dɪˈmɪnɪʃ] / US verb Word forms diminish : present tense I/you/we/they diminish he/she/it diminishes present participle diminishing past tense diminished past participle diminished 1) [intransitive] to become less The intensity of the sound… …   English dictionary

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