Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- the act, fact, or process of diminishing; lessening; reduction.
- Music. the repetition or imitation of a subject or theme in notes of shorter duration than those first used.
noun
- reduction; decrease
- music the presentation of the subject of a fugue, etc, in which the note values are reduced in lengthCompare augmentation (def. 3)
c.1300, from Anglo-French diminuciun, Old French diminucion, from Latin diminutionem (nominative diminutio), earlier deminutionem, noun of action from past participle stem of deminuere (see diminish).