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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

di·min·ish       (dĭ-mĭn'ĭsh)  Pronunciation Key  v.   di·min·ished, di·min·ish·ing, di·min·ish·es v.   tr. To make smaller or less or to cause to appear so. To detract from the authority, reputation, or prestige of. To cause to taper. Music To reduce (a perfect or minor interval) by a semitone. v.   intr. To become smaller or less. See Synonyms at decrease. To taper. [Middle English diminishen, blend of diminuen, to lessen (from Old French diminuer, from Latin dīminuere, variant of dēminuere : dē-, de- + minuere, to lessen) and minishen, to reduce (from Old French minuiser, from Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre, from Latin minūtia, smallness, from minūtus, small, from past participle of minuere); see mei-2 in Indo-European roots.] di·min'ish·a·ble adj., di·min'ish·ment n.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
diminish 

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

diminish
verb
1.	decrease in size, extent, or range; "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper" [syn: decrease] [ant: increase]
2.	lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of; "don't belittle your colleagues"

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Diminish

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.