\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}.

\Di*min"ish\, v. i.
To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the
apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.