‖ diminuendo Mus.
(diminuˈendo, dɪˌmɪnjʊˈɛndəʊ)
[It. diminuendo lessening, diminishing, pr. pple. of diminuire to diminish: see prec.]
A musical direction indicating a gradual decrease in force or loudness of tone (abbrev. dim., dimin.); as n. a gradual decrease in force of tone, or a passage where this occurs. Also transf. and fig. (Opp. to crescendo n.) Also attrib. or as adj.
| 1775 ‘J. Collier’ Mus. Trav. (ed. 3) 65, I stood still some time to observe the diminuendo and crescendo. 1789–1826 [see crescendo n.]. 1870 M. Bridgman Ro. Lynne II. iii. 70 ‘Ah!’ this from Dicky Blake, diminuendo. 1890 W. James Princ. Psychol. II. xviii. 71 Certain violin-players take advantage of this in diminuendo terminations. 1891 Daily News 26 Oct. 3/3 A similar trimming..on a smaller scale, edged..the bodice, and was repeated in a further diminuendo round the neck. 1937 A. Huxley Let. 15 Dec. (1969) 429 Pardon this diminuendo, due to my not noticing that the ribbon had to change its direction! 1955 Times 9 May 3/4 There were ‘expressive’ ritenutos and diminuendos and protracted cadences. Ibid. 26 May 11/6 Labour's promise to do away with the 11 plus examination for selective secondary education was another scheme that suffered a diminuendo. 1958 A. J. Toynbee East to West xiii. 38 En route one changes, diminuendo, from South Austalian broad gauge to Commonwealth standard gauge. 1959 Encounter Aug. 34/1 He was looking a bit diminuendo, and smiled rather nervously. |
Hence as v. intr., to become quieter or fainter; to grow less.
| 1901 Westm. Gaz. 12 Nov. 2/1 Their booming note crescendoes up the scale with increasing speed and diminuendoes with the slackening of it. 1905 Daily Chron. 27 Oct. 6/4 The wail of Niobe diminuendoes in the receding distance. 1962 Guardian 19 Oct. 11/7 He began to howl and diminuendoed down to a mutter. |