mince

Meanings

Noun

Verb

  • To make less; make small.
  • To lessen; diminish; to diminish in speaking; speak of lightly or slightingly; minimise.
  • To effect mincingly.
  • To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine.
  • To suppress or weaken the force of
  • To say or utter vaguely, not directly or frankly
  • To affect; to pronounce affectedly or with an accent.
  • To walk with short steps; to walk in a prim, affected manner.
  • To act or talk with affected nicety; to affect delicacy in manner.

Origin

  • From Middle English mincen, minsen; partly from Old English minsian, ġeminsian, from Proto-Germanic *minnisōną ("to make less"); partly from Old French mincer, mincier, from mince, from Frankish *minsto, *minnisto, superlative of *min, *minn, from Proto-Germanic *minniz ("less"); both from Proto-Indo-European *mey- ("small, little"). Cognate with Old Saxon minsōn ("to make less, make smaller"), Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌽𐌶𐌽𐌰𐌽 ("to become less, diminish"), Swedish minska ("to reduce, lessen"), Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌽𐍃 ("slender, slight"). More at min.

Modern English dictionary

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