minish
Americanverb (used with or without object)
Usage
What does minish mean? Minish means the same thing as diminish—to make or become smaller, fewer, or less. Minish is considered archaic, which means it was once in regular usage but is now largely unused. Example: Our forces have minished, and we must draw back.
Etymology
Origin of minish
1300–50; late Middle English, variant (assimilated to -ish 2 ) of menuse < Middle French menu ( i ) sier < Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre to lessen. See minute 2, mince
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
High afar The Latmian saw them minish into nought; And, when all were clear vanish'd, still he caught A vivid lightning from that dreadful bow.
From Endymion A Poetic Romance by John Keats
But as for her she neither refuseth the hated bridal, nor hath the heart to make and end; so they devour and minish my house; and ere long will they make havoc likewise of myself.
From The Odyssey Done into English prose by Andrew Lang
Short our end and minish our pain: Let us go, and never come again.
From A Select Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 1 by William Carew Hazlitt
O Princess of fair ones, think not that I brought thee hither hither to minish thy honour.
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 13 by Sir Richard Francis Burton
Among them I used to minish myself to the size of an ant and become a pioneer hewing out a pathway through virgin thickets.
From Lore of Proserpine by Maurice Henry Hewlett
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
