di·min·ish (dĭ-mĭn'ĭsh) 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.
[di-min-ish] 
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