Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for mince on Thesaurus.com verb (used with object), minced, minc·ing. to cut or chop into very small pieces. to soften, moderate, or weaken (one's words), especially for the sake of decorum or courtesy. to perform or utter with affected elegance. to subdivide minutely, as land or a topic for study. Show More
verb (used without object), minced, minc·ing. to walk or move with short, affectedly dainty steps. Archaic to act or speak with affected elegance. Show More
not mince words /matters , to speak directly and frankly; be blunt or outspoken: He was angry and didn't mince words. Show More
Origin of mince 1350–1400; Middle English mincen <
Middle French minc(i)er <
Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre to mince; see
minute2 Related forms minc·er , noun un·minced , adjective Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for mince crumble ,
grind ,
soften ,
cut ,
hash ,
chip ,
hack ,
whack ,
divide ,
dice ,
sashay ,
strut ,
prance ,
flounce ,
attitudinize ,
posture ,
spare ,
palliate ,
minimize ,
extenuate Examples from the Web for mince Contemporary Examples of mince But Marcouch does not mince his words: “The greatest insult of ISIS may even be toward the Muslims and Islam itself,” he tells us.
Musk was never one to mince words, but has recently unleashed aggressive broadsides on ULA.
Santa snacks on rice pudding in Denmark, sponge cake in Chile, Kulkuls in India, and mince pies in the U.K.
Never one to mince her words, Leakes is as bawdy as they get on reality television.
Not to mince words,” he tells Gibney in the movie, “my view is I brought myself down… I did what I did, and shame on me.
Historical Examples of mince These mince pies may be eaten by persons who refrain from meat in Lent.
When half done, take them out, drain them, and mince them very fine.
Pare the pine-apple, slice it very thin, and mince it small.
Place the mince in greased scallop shells, and cover with the potatoes.
Put the mince into a quart of boiling milk, with a little butter and salt, cinnamon and sugar, and stir them carefully together.
British Dictionary definitions for mince (tr) to chop, grind, or cut into very small pieces (tr) to soften or moderate, esp for the sake of convention or politeness I didn't mince my words (intr) to walk or speak in an affected dainty manner Show More
mainly British minced meat informal nonsensical rubbish Show More
Word Origin for mince C14: from Old French mincier, from Vulgar Latin minūtiāre (unattested), from Late Latin minūtia smallness; see minutiae
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for mince v. late 14c., "to chop in little pieces," from Old French mincier "make into small pieces," from Vulgar Latin *minutiare "make small," from Late Latin minutiæ "small bits," from Latin minutus "small" (see minute (adj.)). Of speech, "to clip affectedly in imitation of elegance," 1540s; of words or language, "to restrain in the interest of decorum," 1590s. Meaning "to walk with short or precise steps" is from 1560s. Related: Minced ; mincing .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
