dim it (dim it)

t.; pret. and pp. dimitted, ppr. dimitting. [= Sp. dimitir = Pg. dimittir, let go, dismi , resign, abdicate, Hee greets Gehezi with the same word wherewith hee lately was dimitted by his master. Bp. Hall, Elisha with Naaman. IMG:content-2664.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-2665.png:[blocks in formation] 2t. In old med., something that diminishes or abates. Diet, diminutives , alteratives, cordials, correctors, as before. Burton , Anat. of Mel., p. 403. 3. In gram., a word formed from another word, usually an appellative or generic term, to expre a little thing of the kind: as, in Latin, lapillus, a little stone, from lapis, a stone; cel lula, a little cell, from cella, a cell; in French, maisonnette, a little house, from maison, a house; in English, manikin, a little man, from man; rivulet, which is a double diminutive, being from Latin rivulus, a diminutive of rivus, a river, with the English diminutive termination -et. Many terminations originally diminutive, or words having such terminations, have lost diminutive force. The principal suffixes in English recognized as diminutive are -et, -kin, -let, -ling, -ock, -in, and -y orie. See also -el, -elle, -ule, cule, etc. He afterwards proving a dainty and effeminate youth, was commonly called by the diminutive of his name, Peterkin or Perkin. Bacon, Hist. Hen. VII. Babyisms and dear diminutives Scatter'd all over the vocabulary Of such a love. Tennyson, Aylmer's Field. In some languages, as Italian for instance, adjectival repetition is really almost like mathematical multi plica tion, increasing diminishing the effect according as the term is in itself an augmentative or diminutive. J. Venn, Symbolic Logic, p. 56. diminutively (di-min'u-tiv-li), adv . In a diminishing manner; in a manner to le en; on a small scale. to leave a lodge, implying good standing in the lodge left, and thus no disability to affiliate with another lodge. dimity (dim'i-ti), n.; pl. dimities (-tiz). [Formerly also dimitty; = D. diemet, diemit = Dan. dimiti ( stout cotton fabric ornamented in the loom with raised stripes or fancy figures, and usually employed undyed for bed and bedroom furniture. Patterns are sometimes printed upon it in col ors. Go, put on One of thy temple suits, and accompany us, Or else thy dimity breeches will be mortal. Jasper Mayne , City Match, i. 4. Dimity binding, a kind of binding or galloon with plain, straight edges, and ornamented with a raised pattern. dimlyt (dim'li), a. [ No dimly cloud o'ershadows thee, Nor gloom, nor darksome night. Quarles, O Mother dear, Jerusalem! dimly (dim'li), adv. [ Doest thou now looke dimly, and with a dull eye vpon all Goodnes? Dekker, Seven Deadly Sins, p. 24. To us invisible or dimly seen. Milton, P. L., v. 157. The barn's wealth dimly showing through the dark. William Morris, Earthly Paradise, II. 171. dimmish