purposefully-diminished
|pur-pose-ful-ly-di-min-ished|
C1
🇺🇸
/ˈpɜːrpəsfəli dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
🇬🇧
/ˈpɜːpəsfəli dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/
(diminish)
make less
Etymology
Etymology Information
'diminish' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'diminut-', where 'de-' meant 'down' and 'minuere' meant 'to make small.'
Historical Evolution
'diminut-' transformed into the Old French word 'diminuer,' and eventually became the modern English word 'diminish' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to make smaller,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
intentionally reduced in size, importance, or intensity.
The artist created a purposefully-diminished sculpture to convey a sense of fragility.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/05/20 05:08