\Mince\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Minced}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Minging}.] [AS. minsian to grow less, dwindle, fr. min
small; akin to G. minder less, Goth. minniza less, mins less,
adv., L. minor, adj. (cf. {Minor}); or more likely fr. F.
mincer to mince, prob. from (assumed) LL. minutiare. ????.
See {Minish}.]
1. To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine; to hash; as,
   to mince meat. --Bacon.
2. To suppress or weaken the force of; to extenuate; to
   palliate; to tell by degrees, instead of directly and
   frankly; to clip, as words or expressions; to utter half
   and keep back half of.
         I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to
         say -- ``I love you.''                --Shak.
         Siren, now mince the sin, And mollify damnation with
         a phrase.                             --Dryden.
         If, to mince his meaning, I had either omitted some
         part of what he said, or taken from the strength of
         his expression, I certainly had wronged him.
                                               --Dryden.
3. To affect; to make a parade of. [R.] --Shak.

\Mince\, v. i.
1. To walk with short steps; to walk in a prim, affected
   manner.
         The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with
         stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, . . . mincing
         as they go.                           --Is. iii. 16.
         I 'll . . . turn two mincing steps Into a manly
         stride.                               --Shak.
2. To act or talk with affected nicety; to affect delicacy in
   manner.

\Mince\, n.
A short, precise step; an affected manner.