Word Origin & History
diminishearly 15c., from merger of two obsolete verbs, diminue and minish. Diminue is from O.Fr. diminuer "make small," from L. diminuere "break into small pieces," variant of deminuere "lessen, diminish," from de- "completely" + minuere "make small," from root of minus (see
minus). Related: Diminished; diminishes; diminishing. Minish is from O.Fr. menuisier, from L. minuere.