browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
minced |
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.
more about minced