diminish Copy link Outline I. Trans.1. mĭnuo, ui, ūtum, 32. lĕvo, 1 (in certain connexions only; viz., where weight, value, or dignity are concerned)3. extĕnuo, 1 (to reduce to little)4. dētrăho, xi, ctum, 3 (to take aught from5. lēnio, 4 (as of care, pain)II. Intrans. • diminish: I. Trans.: 1. mĭnuo, ui, ūtum, 3: to d. expense, sumptus m., Cic.: to d. the fear of soldiers, m. timorem militum, Hirt. Also comps. (1.) immĭnuo, 3 (not perceptibly different from minuo in this sense): Cic. (2.) dēmĭnuo, 3 (to take ever so little from: diminuo is to break in pieces; but the MSS. often vary): to d. by ever so little the brief space of time, aliquid de hoc tam exiguo tempore d., Cic.: Liv. 2. lĕvo, 1 (in certain connexions only; viz., where weight, value, or dignity are concerned): authority is d.'d by inconsistency, auctoritas levatur inconstantia, Cic.: to d. prices (of corn), annonam l., Cic.: many promises d. faith, multa fidem promissa levant, Hor. Simly, the comp. ēlĕvo, 1: to d. influence, auctoritatem e., Liv.: to d. fame, famam e., Liv.: Cic. 3. extĕnuo, 1 (to reduce to little): to d. any one's troubles (greatly), molestias alicujus ex., Cic.: v. to reduce. 4. dētrăho, xi, ctum, 3 (to take aught from: hence usu. foll. by de or ex and abl., or dat.): to d. the sum total (a little), aliquid de summa d., Cic.: to d. one's efforts, aliquantum de studio d., Cic.: v. to detract from. 5. lēnio, 4 (as of care, pain): v. to ease, assuage. II. Intrans.: mĭnuor, immĭnuor, extĕnuor, etc.: v. supr., and to decrease.