diminish
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/verb
1- make or become less减少, 减小, 缩减, 降低：
with obj. the new law is expected to diminish the government's chances新法律有望减少政府的机会
no obj. the pain will gradually diminish.疼痛会渐渐减轻。
1.1
- with obj. make (someone or something) seem less impressive or valuable贬低（某人, 某物）的形象; 缩小（某人, 某物）的价值：
the trial has aged and diminished him.
这场审讯使他衰老而且垮了。
短语
(the law of) diminishing returns
- used to refer to a point at which the level of profits or benefits gained is less than the amount of money or energy invested报酬递减（律）。
派生词
diminishable
adjective词源
late Middle English: blend of archaic minish 'diminish' （based on Latin minutia 'smallness'） and obsolete diminue 'speak disparagingly' （based on Latin deminuere 'lessen' （in late Latin diminuere）, from minuere 'make small'）.