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The act of diminishing, or the state of being diminished; diminution. [Obs.]

A diminution. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

The act of mitigating, or the state of being mitigated; abatement or diminution of anything painful, harsh, severe, afflictive, or calamitous; as, the mitigation of pain, grief, rigor, severity, punishment, or penalty.

A horizontal ledge on the face of a wall, formed by a diminution of its thickness, or by the weathering or upper surface of a part built out from it; -- called also set-off.

To produce, as an effect; to cause. The same cause would operate a diminution of the value of stock. A. Hamilton.

Loss of diminution. [Obs.] Shak.

ive or adverb which denotes simple quality, without comparison or relation to increase or diminution; as, wise, noble. -- Positive electricity (Elec), the kind of electricity which is developed when glass is rubbed with silk, or which appears at that pole of a voltaic battery attached to the plate that is not attacked…

g limited; that which qualifies by limiting; modification; restriction; hence, abatement; diminution; as, to use words without any qualification.

Diminution.

The act of reducing, or state of being reduced; conversion to a given state or condition; diminution; conquest; as, the reduction of a body to powder; the reduction of things to order; the reduction of the expenses of government; the reduction of a rebellious province.

Diminution of intensity; abatement; relaxation.

able inflammations of the skin, mucous membrane, bones, joints, and other parts, and by a diminution in the power of resistance to disease or injury and the capacity for recovery. Scrofula is now generally held to be tuberculous in character, and may develop into general or local tuberculosis (consumption).…

Great diminution or suspension of sensibility; suppression of sense or feeling; lethargy.

A tapering form; gradual diminution of thickness in an elongated object; as, the taper of a spire.

Decline; failure; diminution; decrease; declension. An age in which the church is in its wane. South. Though the year be on the wane. Keble.

The act of wearing, or the state of being worn; consumption by use; diminution by friction; as, the wear of a garment.