[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

diminish \dimin"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
see also:
diminished diminishing dis- minish augment increase 
diminished column diminished scale diminishing scale diminishing rule diminishing stile 
decrease 

Stile >> S Words
Stile, definition of term: Stile
stile_pag1.html

Diminishing >> D Words
Diminishing, definition of term: Diminishing
diminishing_pag1.html