1 definition found
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Mince \Mince\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Minced}; p. pr & vb n.
{Minging}.] [AS. minsian to grow less dwindle, fr min
small akin to G. minder less Goth. minniza less mins less
adv., L. minor, adj (cf. {Minor}); or more likely fr F.
mincer to mince, prob. from (assumed) LL minutiare. ????.
See {Minish}.]
1. To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine; to hash; as
to mince meat. --Bacon.
2. To suppress or weaken the force of to extenuate; to
palliate; to tell by degrees, instead of directly and
frankly; to clip, as words or expressions; to utter half
and keep back half of
I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to
say -- ``I love you.'' --Shak.
Siren, now mince the sin, And mollify damnation with
a phrase. --Dryden.
If to mince his meaning, I had either omitted some
part of what he said or taken from the strength of
his expression, I certainly had wronged him
--Dryden.
3. To affect; to make a parade of [R.] --Shak.
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