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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

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

{Diminished scale}, 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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