diminish

[dih-min-ish] /dɪˈmɪn ɪʃ/
verb (used with object)
1.
to make or cause to seem smaller, less, less important, etc.; lessen; reduce.
2.
Architecture. to give (a column) a form tapering inward from bottom to top.
3.
Music. to make (an interval) smaller by a chromatic half step than the corresponding perfect or minor interval.
4.
to detract from the authority, honor, stature, or reputation of; disparage.
verb (used without object)
5.
to lessen; decrease.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English; blend of diminuen (< Anglo-French diminuer < Medieval Latin dīminuere for Latin dēminuere to make smaller) and minishen minish
Related forms
diminishable, adjective
diminishment, noun
nondiminishing, adjective
prediminish, verb (used with object)
prediminishment, noun
undiminishable, adjective
undiminishableness, noun
undiminishably, adverb
undiminished, adjective
undiminishing, adjective
Synonyms
5. See decrease.
Examples from the web for diminished
  • The intrusiveness of other forms of monitoring make us feel somehow diminished.
  • Economic growth will be constricted, and the quality of life will be diminished.
  • Downstream human communities also may suffer from diminished water resources.
  • It releases fewer volatile chemicals, and your tongue's ability to taste bitterness is diminished.
  • But as microbrews went mainstream, these status differences diminished.
  • The civic and moral dimensions also are diminished by the powerful market-based orientation to economic and social problems.
  • In particular, bosses' profits have sadly diminished.
  • Scientists have estimated that storm surge is diminished by one foot for every square-mile of wetland it travels through.
  • By then, the public's distrust of electricity had diminished.
  • Faced with diminished success in receiving funds, many professors have begun resorting to various methods to improve their odds.
British Dictionary definitions for diminished

diminished

/dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
adjective
1.
reduced or lessened; made smaller
2.
(music) denoting any minor or perfect interval reduced by a semitone
3.
(music) denoting a triad consisting of the root plus a minor third and a diminished fifth
4.
(music) (postpositive) (esp in jazz or pop music) denoting a diminished seventh chord having as its root the note specified: B diminished

diminish

/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
verb
1.
to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
2.
(transitive) (architect) to cause (a column, etc) to taper
3.
(transitive) (music) to decrease (a minor or perfect interval) by a semitone
4.
to belittle or be belittled; reduce in authority, status, etc; depreciate
Derived Forms
diminishable, adjective
diminishingly, adverb
diminishment, noun
Word Origin
C15: blend of diminuen to lessen (from Latin dēminuere to make smaller, from minuere to reduce) + archaic minish to lessen
Word Origin and History for diminished

diminish

v.

early 15c., from merger of two obsolete verbs, diminue and minish. Diminue is from Old French diminuer "make small," from Latin diminuere "break into small pieces," variant of deminuere "lessen, diminish," from de- "completely" + minuere "make small" (see minus).

Minish is from Old French menuisier, from Latin minuere. Related: Diminished; diminishes; diminishing.