different between diminution vs havoc

English

Etymology

From Middle English diminucioun, from Anglo-Norman diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin d?min?ti?.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d?m??nju??(?)n/

Noun

diminution (countable and uncountable, plural diminutions)

1. A lessening, decrease or reduction.

   The new emission standards have produced a measurable diminution in air pollution.
2. The act or process of making diminutive.
3. (music) a compositional technique where the composer shortens the melody by shortening its note values.

Synonyms

• (lessening, decrease): diminishment

Related terms

• diminish
• diminished
• diminuendo

Translations

French

Etymology

From Old French diminucion, from Latin d?min?ti?.

Pronunciation

Noun

diminution f (plural diminutions)

1. diminution, abatement

Interlingua

Noun

diminution (plural diminutiones)

1. decrease

Related terms

• diminuer

English

Alternative forms

• havock (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English havok, havyk, from Old French havok in the phrase crier havok (“cry havoc”) a signal to soldiers to seize plunder, from Old French crier (“cry out, shout”) + havot (“pillaging, looting”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?hæv.?k/

Noun

havoc (usually uncountable, plural havocs)

1. widespread devastation, destruction

   • Ye gods, what havoc does ambition make / Among your works!
2. mayhem

Usage notes

The noun havoc is most often used in the set phrase wreak havoc.

Derived terms

• play havoc, raise havoc, wreak havoc, cry havoc, break havoc

Translations

Verb

havoc (third-person singular simple present havocs, present participle havocking, simple past and past participle havocked)

1. To pillage.
   • 1599, William Shakespeare, Henry V, Act I, Scene II:

     To tear and havoc more than she can eat.

2. To cause havoc.

Usage notes

As with other verbs ending in vowel + -c, the gerund-participle is sometimes spelled havocing, and the preterite and past participle is sometimes spelled havoced; for citations using these spellings, see their respective entries. However, the spellings havocking and havocked are far more common. Compare panic, picnic.

Translations

Interjection

havoc

1. A cry in war as the signal for indiscriminate slaughter.

   • Do not cry havoc, where you should but hunt / With modest warrant.

References