imminuo Latin · revision 31861

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *mi-n(e)-h₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪmˈmɪ.nu.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [imˈmiː.nu.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''imminuō''' (present infinitive imminuere, perfect active imminuī, supine imminūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ It is also spelled ''inm-''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|in-|minuō|t2=to lessen]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|minuō]] to [[itc-pro|*minu-je/o-|t=to lessen]] and to a nasal present [[ine-pro|*mi-n(e)-h₁-|t=to make less]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|menvum|t=to lessen]], [[sa|मिनाति|tr=minā́ti|t=damages, diminishes]] and [[grc|μινύθω|tr=minúthō|t=to lessen]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Its first example in the OLD is Plautus' “no one else has ever impaired my chastity”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to make smaller, as in Cicero's advice to reduce one's small forces as little as possible, and in Gellius to form a diminutive, ''sacellum'' from ''sacrum''.^(OLD 2012) It is more often used of abstract things, to diminish or lessen them, and to impair or weaken, as in Cicero's state broken by misfortune, impaired and enfeebled.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Tacitus uses it of lowering someone's dignity: Augusta complained that she was being outraged and slighted.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “abate, diminish, lessen”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of impaired chastity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 170–c. 90 BC – Accius.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of reducing forces and of a weakened state.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus of lowered dignity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius of forming a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make smaller, [[m|en|reduce]], [[m|en|diminish]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''(grammar)'' to form a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To lessen in degree.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To [[m|en|impair]], weaken, spoil.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To lower in honour or dignity.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[imminūtiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minuo|alt=minuō]]

+ * [[minor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}