v.
- make or become less.
-
[as adj. diminished]
Music denoting an interval which is one semitone less than the corresponding minor or perfect interval.
Phrase
-
(the law of)
diminishing returns
the principle that as expenditure or investment increases each further increase produces a proportionately smaller return.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: blend of archaic minish ‘diminish’ (based on L. minutia ‘smallness’) and obs. diminue ‘speak disparagingly’ (based on L. deminuere ‘lessen’).