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# diminish

verb (diminish, diminishes, diminished, diminishing)

«diminish» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To diminish is to become smaller, less or weaker. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#m1)
2. To diminish something is to make it smaller or less important. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#m2)

### In the lessons

A formal word in reading and science: «The noise diminished» means it got quieter. In maths, a diminishing amount gets smaller each time. In everyday speech people say «go down», «shrink» or «fade». Phrases: diminish in size, diminishing returns.

### Examples

- The rain diminished and the sun came out. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x1)
- His pain diminished after a rest. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x2)
- The pile of sweets diminished quickly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x3)
- (formal) The value of the car diminishes each year. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x4)
- Don't let one mistake diminish your confidence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x5)
- The sound diminished as the train went away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x6)
- Supplies of water diminished during the hot summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/#x7)

### Note

Formal; regular verb. Opposite: increase, grow. In maths «diminished by 5» means take away 5; «diminished by half» means divide by 2.

## In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means to take away or cut down. It is used for a wife's rights, for the slaves' brick quota in Egypt, and for God's commandments.

**Interpretation.** The command not to add to or diminish the commandments is read as a rule that the Torah must stay exactly as given. The rabbis took it as a limit on adding new duties or removing old ones.

### Examples

- If he take him another wife, her food, her raiment, and her conjugal rights, shall he not diminish. (Torah EXO.21.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/diminish/#x1)
- All this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. (Torah DEU.12.32, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/diminish/#x2)
- And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were set on mischief, when they said: 'Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily task.' (Torah EXO.5.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/diminish/#x3)
- O LORD, correct me, but in measure; not in Thine anger, lest Thou diminish me. (Prophets JER.10.24, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/diminish/#x4)
- It shall be the lowliest of the kingdoms, neither shall it any more lift itself up above the nations; and I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations. (Prophets EZK.29.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/diminish/#x5)

### Note

Formal; regular verb. Opposite: increase, grow. In maths «diminished by 5» means take away 5; «diminished by half» means divide by 2.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «diminish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/diminish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«diminish» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/diminish.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «diminish» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/D/diminish/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«diminish» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/diminish.html) on Mova free.