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diminish

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Diminish is defined as to make something seem smaller or less important.

(verb)

An example of diminish is to downplay the achievement of receiving a law degree from Harvard.

See diminish in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb

to make, or make seem, smaller; reduce in size, degree, importance, etc.; lessen
Archit. to cause to taper
Music to reduce (a perfect or a minor interval) by a half step

Origin: ME diminishen, a blend of diminuen, to reduce (< OFr diminuer < L diminuere, var. of deminuere < de-, from + minuere, to lessen < minus, small) & minishen, to make smaller < OFr menusier < VL *minutiare < L minutus, minute

intransitive verb

to become smaller or less
Archit. to taper

Related Forms:

diminishable adjective

See diminish in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb di·min·ished, di·min·ish·ing, di·min·ish·es

verb, transitive

a. To make smaller or less or to cause to appear so.
b. To detract from the authority, reputation, or prestige of.
To cause to taper.
Music To reduce (a perfect or minor interval) by a semitone.

verb, intransitive

To become smaller or less. See Synonyms at decrease.
To taper.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English diminishen

Origin: , blend of diminuen, to lessen (from Old French diminuer, from Latin dīminuere, variant of dēminuere : dē-, de- + minuere, to lessen)

Origin: and minishen, to reduce (from Old French minuiser, from Vulgar Latin *minūtiāre, from Latin minūtia, smallness, from minūtus, small, from past participle of minuere); see mei-² in Indo-European roots