Building a Better Vocabulary

z The etymology of diminuendo can help you remember its meaning.

Diminuire is an Italian verb meaning “to diminish,” and -endo is

basically the Italian version of the -ingZHXVHLQ(QJOLVKDVDVXI¿[

for gerunds and participles. Highlight the dimini in diminuendo

and connect it to the related word diminish in your vocabulary

notebook. Write down that a diminuendo refers to a diminishing

loudness or intensity.

z The min morpheme in diminuendo is a Latin root meaning “small.”

It appears in such words as miniscule, mince, minor, minimum,

minus, minute, diminish, and diminutive.

Lilliputian (adjective)

1. Very small, diminutive.


2. Trivial, petty.

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³WKH¿UVWVPDOOSDUW ́RUthRIDFLUFOHDQGsecond (pars minuta secunda³WKH
VHFRQGVPDOOSDUW ́thRIDPLQXWH

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