DIMINUTION

(Lat.diminutio.) In Music, a division of a large note into smaller ones; as a semlbreve Into two minims, four crotchets, . DiMiNUTioN. In Architecture, the gradual decrease of the diameter of a column as it rises. See Entasis. DIMl'NUTIVE (Lat.), in Grammar, is applied to words which, by the addition of one or more syllables to those from which they are derived, soften the meaning or diminish the force and effect thereof. Every language is in a greater or le degree susceptible of diminutives; but in this respect, as is well known, the Italian language surpa es all those both of ancient and modern times. [s. 359]