diminish: [15] Diminish is a hybrid verb, the result of a marriage between the now obsolete diminue [14] and the virtually obsolete minish [14], both of which meant ‘make smaller’. Diminue came via Old French diminuer from Latin dīminuere ‘break into small pieces’; it was a compound verb formed from the prefix dē- ‘from’ and minuere ‘lessen’ (source of English minute). Minish came via Old French menuiser from Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre, a derivative of Latin minūtus ‘small’; this, bringing the history of diminish full circle, was an adjectival use of the past participle of minuere. => minute
diminish (v.)
early 15c., from merger of two obsolete verbs, diminue and minish. Diminue is from Old French diminuer "make small," from Latin diminuere "break into small pieces," variant of deminuere "lessen, diminish," from de- "completely" + minuere "make small" (see minus).
Minish is from Old French menuisier, from Latin minuere. Related: Diminished; diminishes; diminishing.
权威例句
1. Federalism is intended to diminish the power of the central state.
联邦制旨在削弱中央政府的权力。
2. We should try to diminish the cost of production.
我们应尽力减少生产成本.
3. As people approach old age, their energies may diminish.
【diminish, decline, alleviate, decrease, reduce】
这组词都有“减少,减轻”的意思,其区别是:
diminish: v.指因为不断消耗,在数量方面缓慢减少,也指在素质或者价值的下降。
• The supply of oil has diminished because of the war. 由于战争石油的供应减少了。
decline: v. (数目、价格、比率)下降;谢绝,婉言推辞;衰退,衰落。
• Last year, the crime rate in Chicago has sharply declined. 去年芝加哥的犯罪率明显下降。
• He declined our invitation to dinner. 他婉拒了我们请他吃饭的邀请。
alleviate: v.在痛苦方面的减轻,缓和
• The painkiller alleviated the pain. 止疼药减缓了疼痛。
decrease: v.指数量上的减少;力量或者强度的减弱。
• The population decreased a lot last year. 去年人口数量急剧下降。
reduce: v.指人为地使某物在数量或重量方面的减少或降低。
• He reduced the amount of money they could spend. 他缩减了他们的开销。