diminution, diminucion

(French; Sp. diminucion: Ital. diminuzione, from Lat. diminu tio, from diminutus, pa. par. of diminuo = to dimiz. IMG:content-2527.png:[blocks in formation] addition or diminution to the mind that truth, without from the Holy Ghost."-Hooker: Eccl. Pol., bk. v., ch. xxii., § 6. 2. The state of becoming or appearing le or smaller. "Their intellects suffer an equal diminution with their prosperity."-Goldsmith: On Polite Learning , ch. ii. *3. A discredit; a lo of dignity; a degradation; a disgrace. "Heroic laurel'd Eugene yields the prime; Nor thinks it diminution to be rank'd In military honor next." Philips . *4. A deprivation of or lowering of dignity. They might raise the reputation of another, though they are a diminution to his." - Add is on : Spectator. II. Technically : 1. Arch .: The gradual decrease in the diameter of the shaft of a column from the base to the capital. The shafts are diminished as they rise, IMG:content-2528.png:[blocks in formation] A. As adjective: 1. Small, little. *3. Diminishing, abridging, le ening. " Diminutive of liberty."-Shaftesbury. IMG:content-2529.png:[blocks in formation] 1. Gram .: A word formed from another word to expre a diminution or le ening in size or importance: as in Lat. lapillus a little stone, from lapis =a stone; as in Eng. circlet =a little circle, ieaflet = a little leaf, . The diminutive suffixes in Eng. are-et, -let, -kin, -ock . *2. Medicine : Any medicine or preparation which tends to diminish or abate. "Diet, diminutives, alteratives, cordials, correctors, as before." Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy. For the difference between diminutive and little, see LITTLE. di-min'-u-tive-ly, adv. [Eng. diminutive; -ly.] 1. In a diminutive manner. "Magnify the former, they are still diminutively conceived."- Walpole : Anecdotes of Painting , iii., ch. i. *2. In a manner tending to le en, depreciate, or disparage. †di-min-u-tive-ne , s. [English diminutive ; -ne .] The quality or state of being diminutive; smallne , littlene . "The diminutivene of his figure."- Student , ii. 225. dim'-ish, a . [DIMMISH.] Somewhat dim. ""Tis true, but let it not be known, My eyes are somewhat dimish grown," Swift : Stella's Birthday. *dimi ion (di-mish'-un) (1), s. [DEMISSION.) Humility, lowline . "Zeal of spirit and dimi ion of mind."-Hammond: Works , i. 233. *dimi ion (di-mish'-un) (1), s. [Lat. dimi io , from dimitto =to dismi : di = dis =apart, away, and mit to =to send.] 1. A dismi al, a leave to depart, discharge; release. "He is anointed to preach dimi ion to the captives."Barrow: Sermons , vol. ii., ser. 23. IMG:content-2530.png:[blocks in formation] times from one-quarter, and sometimes from one- third of the height. The diminution at top is -Hammond: Works, i. 192. IMG:content-2531.png:[blocks in formation] another, the documents recommending the bearers to the fellowship of those of the same faith, among whom they will in future reside. *di-mit', v. t . & i. [Lat. dimitto =to send away.] A. Trans.: To send away; to permit to leave. B. In trans.: To pa into; to terminate. "These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good! Almighty, thine this universal frame Thus wondrous fair: thyself how wondrous then! To us invisible, or dimly seen." Milton: P. L., v. 153-56. 2. Not brightly or luminously; obscurely. "Like a sullen star Dimly reflected in a lonely pool." di-mor-phan-drě-æ, s. pl . [Mod. Lat. dim or- phandr(a), and Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -eœ .] Bot.: A tribe of the sub-order Cæsalp in ice. di-mor-phanth-us, s. formed, and anthos a blo om, a flower, so named [Gr. dimorphos = two- because there are flowers of two kinds, some pro- ducing and others not producing seeds.] phanthus edulis is employed in China as a sudorific. Bot .: A genus of plants, order Araliaceæ. Dimor . Its young shoots are regarded as esculent. The Japanese eat the root also; it is bitter, aromatic, and of agreeable taste. ( Lindley , .) morphe =form, and Eng. adj. suff. -ic .] Having two di-mor-phic, a . [Gr. di = dis =twice, twofold; distinct forms; dimorphous. di-morph-i-na, s. [Gr.di= dis =twice, twofold; morphe =form, and Lat. neut. pl. adj. suff. -ina .] Zool.: A hyaline Foraminifer, in which the early chambers have the alternate growth of a Poly- morphin a, and the later ones the linear arrange- type of this dimorphous Polymorph in a. They are ment of a No do sari a. Dimorph in a tuberosa is the found both fo il and recent. ( Griffith & Henfrey.) di-morph-işm, s. [Gr.di= dis =twice, twofold; morphée =form, and Eng. suff. -ism.] 1. Crystal log .: The power of a uming or crystal- lizing in two distinct forms. Sulphur, for instance, which usually crystallizes in the rhombic system, when melted, may form monoclinohedric crystals. This property has been explained by its discoverer physical characters of a body. depend not merely on the principle that the form and, with it, the other Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids." "On each side her Shakesp.: Antony and Cleopatra, ii. 2. dim' pling, pr . par ., a. & s. [DIMPLE, v.] A. & B. As pr . par. & particip . adj.: (See the slight hollows or depre ions. C. As subst.: The act or state of sinking into "And praised the pretty dimpling of his skin." Beaumont: Hermaphrodite. [Eng. dimpl (e); y.) Marked "As the smooth surface of the dimply flood The silver-slippered virgin lightly trod." Warton: Isis. dim-ý-är-I-a, s. [Gr. di dis =twice, twofold; mus a muscle, and Lat. neut. pl. adj. suff. -aria . two adductor muscles, distinct from each other, as Conchiferous bivalves whose shells are closed by Zool .: A name applied to that division of the the common edible Mu el. [MONO MY ARIA.] dim-ý-a-rỹ, a . & 8. [DIMYARIA.] valve with two muscular impre ions on each valve. B. As subst.: One of the Dimyaria (q. v.). A bi- mylos a grinder.] dim-y-lūs, s . [Gr. di = dis =twice, twofold, and their relative position. Hence the same chemical on the chemical nature of the atoms, but also on ing to the family Talpide, and founded upon substance may form two or even more distinct bodies or mineral species. Thus carbon in one form is the diamond, in another graphite; and carbonate of lime appears as calc-spar or as arragonite. Even the temperature at which a sub- stance crystallizes influences its forms, and so far its composition, as seen in arragonite, Glauber salt, borax, . ( Page , .) di-morph-ô-dăn, s . [Gr.di= dis =twice, twofold; morphe form, and odous (gen it. odontos ) = a tooth.] Palæont .: A genus of Pterosaur i a, or flying rep- tiles, in which the anterior teeth are large and pointed, the posterior teeth small and lancet shaped. di-morph-ous, a. [Gr. di = dis =twice, twofold; morphe=form, and Eng. adj. suff. -ous.] 1. Crystal log.: Applied to a chemical substance which crystallizes into two distinct forms. "How should we know that sulphur is dimorphous with out resort to the crucible?"-S. Highley , in Ca ell's Popu- lar Educator, pt. ii., p. 358. "The garden pool's dark surface Breaks into dimples small and bright." hollows, indentations, or depre ions. B. In trans.: To form dimples; to sink in slight "Run in transports to the dimpling deeps." Words worth: Evening Walk . To bait thee for his bread, and din your ears With hungry cries." Otway: Venice Preserved , ii. 1. *B. In trans.: To sound with, or as with, a din. "The gay viol dinning in the vale." Seward: Sonnets, p. 25. din, a. [DUN.) Dun; of a tawny color. "If it be snails and puddocks they eat, I canna but say he is like his meat; as din as a docken, an' as dry as a Fin- trum speldin."- Saxon and Gael ., i. 107. IMG:content-2532.png:[blocks in formation] dine