v. Obs.; also 5 amenusy, -uyse, admenuse. [a. AFr. amenuse-r, OFr. amenuisier, f. à to + menuisier to lessen, cogn. w. Pr. menuzar, It. minuzzare:—late L. *minūtiāre, f. minūt-us lessened, MINUTE. Spelt in 15th c. with ad- after L., and ultimately refashioned as amynysh, AMINISH.]
1. trans. To make less, lessen, diminish.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., I. 19. He amenusiþ þe secre of hys conscience. Ibid. (c. 1386), Pers. T., 285. The dede … amenuseth the loue that men sholde han to god.
1417. in E. E. Wills (1882), 24. Volle power to chaunge þis testament, oþer to mak hit more, oþer to amenusy hit.
1554. Philpot, Exam. & Writ. (1842), 424. Which amenusing the majesty of Christ did diminish therewithal the … mercy of our salvation.
2. intr. (through refl.)
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., I. § 21. Thanne amenuseth his coldnesse.
1447. Bokenham, Lyvys of Seyntys, 262. And ych daye yt began to amenuse.
1481. Caxton, Myrr., II. xxvii. 120. The haylle … cometh doun brekyng and amenuysyng in the fallyng.
