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]
diminished
adj
1: impaired by diminution [syn: diminished, lessened,
vitiated, weakened]
2: (of an organ or body part) diminished in size or strength as
a result of disease or injury or lack of use; "partial
paralysis resulted in an atrophied left arm" [syn:
atrophied, wasted, diminished] [ant: enlarged,
hypertrophied]
3: (of musical intervals) reduction by a semitone of any perfect
or minor musical interval; "a diminished fifth"
4: made to seem smaller or less (especially in worth); "her
comments made me feel small" [syn: belittled, diminished,
small]
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