mince

[MINCE, v.] 1. Lit.: Minced meat. 2. Fig.: Affected manner. minçed, pa. par. & a. [MINCE, v.] A. As pa.par.: (See the verb.) B. As adjective: 2. Fig .: Affected. or cutting into very fine pieces. I. Lit.: Chopping or *II. Figuratively: 1. Speaking or walking affectedly; affected. "With the mincing Dryades." Milton: Comus, 964. 2. Affected; affectedly elegant. "I'll turn two mincing steps, Into a manly stride." Shakesp.: Merchant of Venice , iii. 4. C. As substantive : I. Lit .: The act of chopping or cutting into very fine pieces. " Mincing of meat, as in pies saveth the grind. ing of the teeth." - Bacon: Nat. Hist., § 54. II. Figuratively : 1. The act of extenuating, palliating, or glo ing over a matter; the suppre ion of part of anything. *2. The act or habit of speaking or acting affectedly; affectation. "Which gifts (Saving your mincing ) the capacity Of your soft cheveril conscience would receive." Shakesp.: Henry VIII ., ii. 3.