di|min´ish|er

di|min|ish «duh MIHN ihsh», transitive verb.

1. to make smaller in size or amount; lessen; reduce: »

Poor crops so diminished the food supply that people were starving. The long walk diminished his energy.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under decrease. (Cf. ↑decrease)

2. to lessen the importance, power, or reputation of; degrade.

3. Architecture. to cause to taper.

4. Music. to decrease (a minor or perfect interval) by a half step.

5. Archaic. to disparage; belittle.

–v.i.

1. to become smaller in size or amount; lessen; decrease: »

The heat diminished as the sun went down. A sound diminishes as you get farther away from its source.

SYNONYM(S): See syn. under decrease. (Cf. ↑decrease)

2. to become less in importance, power, or reputation.

3. Architecture. to taper.

╂[blend of Middle English diminuen (< Latin dīminuere, variant of dēminuere < dē- (intensive) + minuere lessen), and menusen to become less < Old French menuisier make small, ultimately < Latin minūtus small. Compare etym. under minish. (Cf. ↑minish)]

–di|min´ish|er, noun.

–di|min´ish|ing|ly, adverb.