minuere

Minuere is a Latin verb meaning to lessen, diminish, or reduce. It belongs to the third conjugation and has the principal parts minuō, minuere, minūī, minūtum. It is transitive and typically takes a direct object in the accusative; common uses include reducing damage (damnum minuere) or lowering prices (pretium minuere).

Conjugation: as a regular third-conjugation verb, it forms the standard endings in the present, imperfect, and other tenses (for example, present minuō, minuēs, minuit; imperfect minuēbam, minuēbās; perfect minuī, minuistī, minuit). The supine is minutum, and the perfect passive participle is minutus.

Usage and nuance: minuere conveys a deliberate or measurable reduction rather than a passive change. In classical Latin it appears in legal, economic, and literary contexts to express attenuation of quantity, severity, or intensity. The verb’s sense can be extended metaphorically to describe diminishing influence, expectations, or risks, depending on context.