different between modify vs diminish
modify
English
Etymology
From Middle English modifien, from Middle French modifier, from Latin modificare (“to limit, control, regulate, deponent”), from modificari (“to measure off, set bound to, moderate”), from modus (“measure”) + facere (“to make”); see mode.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /?m?d?fa?/
- (General American) IPA(key): /?m?d?fa?/
- Hyphenation: mod?i?fy
Verb
modify (third-person singular simple present modifies, present participle modifying, simple past and past participle modified)
- (transitive) To change part of.
- (intransitive) To be or become modified.
- (transitive) To set bounds to; to moderate.
- (grammar, transitive) To qualify the meaning of.
- 1977, Linda R. Waugh, A Semantic Analysis of Word Order: Position of the Adjective in French
- There is inherently no ordering to the modification and no hierarchy of modification: that is, both adjectives modify the substantive and both apply equally to the substantive...
- 2016, Allen Ascher, The New Harbrace Guide: Genres for Composing
- Adjectives modify nouns.
- 1977, Linda R. Waugh, A Semantic Analysis of Word Order: Position of the Adjective in French
Conjugation
Synonyms
- adapt, alter, amend, revamp, rework
Related terms
- modification
Derived terms
- modifier
Translations
References
- modify in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
- modify in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
Anagrams
- domify
modify From the web:
- what modify the rate of enzyme activity
- what modify means
- what modifies a noun
- what modifies and packages proteins
- what modifies a verb
- what modifies nouns or pronouns
- what modifies proteins
- what modifies verbs adjectives and adverbs
diminish
English
Etymology
Formed under the influence of both diminue (from Old French diminuer, from Latin d?minuo) and minish.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /d??m?n??/
Verb
diminish (third-person singular simple present diminishes, present participle diminishing, simple past and past participle diminished)
- (transitive) To make smaller.
- (intransitive) To become smaller.
- (transitive) To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken; to nerf (in gaming).
- 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Ezekiel 29:15,[1]
- It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
- 1639, Ralph Robinson (translator), Utopia by Thomas More, London, Book 2, “Of their journying or travelling abroad,” p. 197,[2]
- […] this doth nothing diminish their opinion.
- 1674, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Book 4, lines 32-35,[3]
- O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned,
- Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God
- Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars
- Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call,
- 1961, V. S. Naipaul, A House for Mr Biswas, London: André Deutsch, Chapter 3,
- In Seth’s presence Mr Biswas felt diminished. Everything about Seth was overpowering: his calm manner, his smooth grey hair, his ivory holder, his hard swollen forearms […]
- 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Ezekiel 29:15,[1]
- (intransitive) To taper.
- 1853, Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford, London: J.M. Dent, 1904, Chapter 8, p. 120,[4]
- The chair and table legs diminished as they neared the ground, and were straight and square in all their corners.
- 1853, Elizabeth Gaskell, Cranford, London: J.M. Dent, 1904, Chapter 8, p. 120,[4]
- (intransitive) To disappear gradually.
- 1948, Graham Greene, The Heart of the Matter, Penguin, 1971, Part Two, Chapter 2, 1, p. 77,[5]
- ‘Good evening, good evening,’ Father Rank called. His stride lengthened and he caught a foot in his soutane and stumbled as he went by. ‘A storm’s coming up,’ he said. ‘Got to hurry,’ and his ‘ho, ho, ho’ diminished mournfully along the railway track, bringing no comfort to anyone.
- 1948, Graham Greene, The Heart of the Matter, Penguin, 1971, Part Two, Chapter 2, 1, p. 77,[5]
- (transitive) To take away; to subtract.
- 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Deuteronomy 4:2,[6]
- Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
- 1611, King James Version of the Bible, Deuteronomy 4:2,[6]
Antonyms
- improve, repair, renovate
Derived terms
- diminishment
- law of diminishing returns
Related terms
- diminution
Translations
Anagrams
- minidish
diminish From the web:
- what diminishes
- what diminish mean
- what diminishes happiness
- what diminishes a fee simple estate
- what diminishes dark spots
- what diminishes scars
- what diminishes/dissipates a thunderstorm
- what diminishes bruises
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