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.
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.
Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt.
Barrow. 2. To lessen the
authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken.
This doth nothing diminish their opinion.
Robynson (More's Utopia). I
will diminish them, that they shall no
more rule over the nations.
Ezek. xxix. 15. O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars
Hide their diminished
heads.
Milton. 3. (Mus.) To make smaller by a
half step; to make (an interval) less than minor; as, a diminished seventh.
4. To take away;
to subtract.
Neither shall ye diminish aught from it.
Deut. iv.
2. Diminished column, one whose upper diameter is less than
the lower. --
Diminished, 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.
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