Variant of diminish

transitive verb

  1. to make, or make seem, smaller; reduce in size, degree, importance, etc.; lessen
  2. Archit. to cause to taper
  3. Music to reduce (a perfect or a minor interval) by a half step

Origin: 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 minutus, minute

intransitive verb

  1. to become smaller or less
  2. Archit. to taper

Related Forms:

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