minish

American  

[min-ish] / ˈmɪn ɪʃ /

verb (used with or without object)

Archaic.

1. to diminish or lessen.

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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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minish

Nor by prolonging life Take we the least away from death's own time, Nor can we pluck one moment off, whereby To minish the aeons of our state of death.

From On the Nature of Things by William Ellery Leonard

Ariosto sings:   No doubt they are accurst and past all grace   That dare to strike a damsel in the face,   Or of her head to minish but a hair.

From The Age of the Reformation by Preserved Smith

But primal germs in bringing things to birth Must have a latent, unseen quality, Lest some outstanding alien element Confuse and minish in the thing create Its proper being.

From On the Nature of Things by William Ellery Leonard

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

But bleeding, weak with years, and tired, Beneath the demon's blows expired, Due rites at Ráma's hands obtained, And bliss that ne'er shall minish, gained.

From The Rámáyan of Válmíki, translated into English verse by Ralph T. H. (Ralph Thomas Hotchkin) Griffith

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