deminuo Latin · revision 32148

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēminuō''' (present infinitive dēminuere, perfect active dēminuī, supine dēminūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+ Manuscripts and editions use ''dēminuō'' and ''dīminuō'' indiscriminately.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dē-|minuō|t2=to lessen]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan traces [[m|la|minuō]] to [[itc-pro|*minu-je/o-|t=to lessen]], from a nasal present [[ine-pro|*mi-n(e)-h₁-|t=to make less]], the source also of [[m|la|minor|t=smaller]].^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|menvum|t=to lessen]] and [[grc|μινύθω|tr=minúthō|t=to lessen, decay]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL dates it from Plautus,^(TLL) whose ''Aulularia'' has a character promise a sister to lighten her labour and whose ''Truculentus'' has someone deduct five coins from a mina.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to lessen the size or amount of something, to make fewer, and to break up into small pieces.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also means to lessen the force or scope of an action, to curtail or impair, to understate in speech, and in grammar to make a diminutive, as Quintilian has it.^(OLD 2012) Lewis & Short contrast it with [[diminuo|alt=dīminuō]], to break into small pieces, but the manuscripts confuse them.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL)

+

+ In money and law it means to deduct, as from an estate: Cicero says that nothing can be taken from a ward's property without the authority of all the guardians.^(OLD 2012) With an ablative it means to deprive of, and ''capite dēminuere'' is to deprive of civil rights.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it to lessen, diminish.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of lessening labour and deducting money.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of things worn down and of reducing an enemy's numbers.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of deductions from a ward's property.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of diminutive forms.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make smaller, [[m|en|diminish]], reduce; to make fewer; to cut up small.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To lessen the force or scope of, [[m|en|curtail]], impair; to understate.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(grammar)'' To make a [[m|en|diminutive]] of a word.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To take away part of an amount, [[m|en|deduct]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To deprive of;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''capite dēminuere'', to deprive of civil rights.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēminūtiō]]

+ * [[dīminutīvus]]

+ * [[dēminutīvus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minuo|alt=minuō]]

+ * [[diminuo|alt=dīminuō]]

+ * [[minor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}