Mince

mins, v.t. to cut into small pieces: to chop fine: to diminish or suppre a part in speaking: to pronounce affectedly.— v.i. to walk with affected nicety: to speak affectedly:— pr.p. minc′ing; pa.p. minced (minst).— ns. Mince′-meat , meat chopped small—hence anything thoroughly broken or cut to pieces; Mince′-pie , a pie made with minced meat, .— adj. Minc′ing , not speaking fully out: speaking or walking with affected nicety.— adv. Minc′ingly .— Mince matters , to speak of things with affected delicacy, or to soften an account unduly.— Minced collops (see Collops ). [A.S. minsian — min , small; prob. cog. with Fr. mince , thin, also Teut.]