diminish
verb (diminish, diminishes, diminished, diminishing)
Everyday
- To diminish is to become smaller, less or weaker. tree →
- To diminish something is to make it smaller or less important. tree →
In the lessons
A formal word in reading and science: «The noise diminished» means it got quieter. In maths, a diminishing amount gets smaller each time. In everyday speech people say «go down», «shrink» or «fade». Phrases: diminish in size, diminishing returns.
Examples
- The rain diminished and the sun came out. tree →
- His pain diminished after a rest. tree →
- The pile of sweets diminished quickly. tree →
- (formal) The value of the car diminishes each year. tree →
- Don't let one mistake diminish your confidence. tree →
- The sound diminished as the train went away. tree →
- Supplies of water diminished during the hot summer. tree →
Note
Formal; regular verb. Opposite: increase, grow. In maths «diminished by 5» means take away 5; «diminished by half» means divide by 2.
In Jewish tradition
In the Torah it means to take away or cut down. It is used for a wife's rights, for the slaves' brick quota in Egypt, and for God's commandments.
Interpretation. The command not to add to or diminish the commandments is read as a rule that the Torah must stay exactly as given. The rabbis took it as a limit on adding new duties or removing old ones.
Examples
- If he take him another wife, her food, her raiment, and her conjugal rights, shall he not diminish. (Torah EXO.21.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- All this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (Torah DEU.12.32, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were set on mischief, when they said: 'Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily task.' (Torah EXO.5.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- O LORD, correct me, but in measure; not in Thine anger, lest Thou diminish me. (Prophets JER.10.24, JPS 1917) tree →
- It shall be the lowliest of the kingdoms, neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations; and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. (Prophets EZK.29.15, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Formal; regular verb. Opposite: increase, grow. In maths «diminished by 5» means take away 5; «diminished by half» means divide by 2.
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «diminish» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «diminish» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «diminish» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «diminish» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
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