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. [1913 Webster]

Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt. --Barrow. [1913 Webster]

2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken. [1913 Webster]

This doth nothing diminish their opinion. --Robynson (More's Utopia). [1913 Webster]

I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. --Ezek. xxix. 15. [1913 Webster]

O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished heads. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. (Mus.) To make smaller by a half step; to make (an interval) less than minor; as, a diminished seventh. [1913 Webster]

4. To take away; to subtract. [1913 Webster]

Neither shall ye diminish aught from it. --Deut. iv. 2. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

40 Moby Thesaurus words for "diminishing": abating, allaying, alleviating, assuaging, blunting, chastening, contractive, cushioning, dampening, damping, deadening, declining, decreasing, decrescendo, decrescent, deliquescent, diminuendo, dulling, dwindling, dying, easing, ebbing, fading, languishing, lessening, mitigating, on the wane, receding, reducing, reductive, relaxing, retiring, retreating, shrinking, sinking, softening, subduing, subsiding, tempering, waning

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

diminishing adj : becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so; "diminishing returns"; "his diminishing respect for her"

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)