diminution

American  

[dim-uh-noo-shuhn, -nyoo-] / ˌdɪm əˈnu ʃən, -ˈnyu- /

noun

1. the act, fact, or process of diminishing; lessening; reduction.

2. Music. the repetition or imitation of a subject or theme in notes of shorter duration than those first used.

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diminution British  

/ ˌdɪmɪˈnjuːʃən /

noun

1. reduction; decrease

2. music the presentation of the subject of a fugue, etc, in which the note values are reduced in length Compare augmentation

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Other Word Forms

• prediminution
  noun

Etymology

Origin of diminution

1275–1325; Middle English diminucion < Anglo-French diminuciun < Latin dīminūtiōn- (stem of dīminūtiō ), for dēminūtiōn- (stem of dēminūtiō ) (by influence of dīmunuere; see diminish), equivalent to dēminūt ( us ) (past participle of dēminuere, equivalent to dē- de- + minuere to lessen) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

When you "dim" a light, you reduce the brightness coming from the bulb. Diminution (not actually related to "dim") is the lessening of something to a smaller size or lower status, as a diminution of your "superpowers" when you wake up from a dream. Pronouncing diminution (dim-ih-NYOO-shun) only seems to get harder the more you repeat it, but memorizing the meaning and sounds with "diminish" and "ammunition" helps. If you take away the firepower in a battle, for example, you diminish the ammunition, causing a diminution of the army's power. A diminution is a decrease of size, time, or esteem. Does the word still sound funny? Let's try a diminution, or reduction, of the number of times we say it — starting now.

Example Sentences

Diminution of the white blood corpuscles plays—comparatively with their increase—a very unimportant rôle in clinical observations.

From Histology of the Blood Normal and Pathological by Myers, W.

But the Antiquity and Honour of your Family can receive no Diminution 460 by a Match with a beautiful and virtuous Creature, for whom, you say, and I believe, you have so true a Passion.

From The Works of Aphra Behn Volume V by Summers, Montague

A Wise Man should give a just Attention to both of them, so far as they may tend to the Improvement of the one, and Diminution of the other.

From The Spectator, Volume 2. by Addison, Joseph

Augmentation and Diminution; the length of the notes is doubled or halved while their metrical relativity is maintained, e.g.

From Music: An Art and a Language by Spalding, Walter Raymond

Of 100 parts of water absorbed there evaporate in four hours at 66° Diminution in bulk during drying of 100 parts moist soil.

From Elements of Agricultural Chemistry by Anderson, Thomas

Related Words

• weakening