Some 16th-century Italian clergymen tried to ban coffee because they believed it to be “satanic.” However, Pope Clement VII loved coffee so much that he lifted the ban and had coffee baptized in 1600.
MINIMIZE
minimize, minimise
(verb) make small or insignificant; “Let’s minimize the risk”
understate, minimize, minimise, downplay
(verb) represent as less significant or important
minimize, belittle, denigrate, derogate
(verb) cause to seem less serious; play down; “Don’t belittle his influence”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
minimize (third-person singular simple present minimizes, present participle minimizing, simple past and past participle minimized)
(transitive) To make (something) as small or as insignificant as possible.
(computing, transitive, graphical user interface) To remove (a window) from the main display area, collapsing it to an icon or caption.
(transitive) To treat (someone) slightingly.
Source: Wiktionary
Min"i*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Minimized; p. pr. & vb. n. Minimizimg.]
Definition: To reduce to the smallest part or proportion possible; to reduce to a minimum. Bentham.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
10 May 2024
MASQUERADE
(verb) pretend to be someone or something that you are not; “he is masquerading as an expert on the internet”; “This silly novel is masquerading as a serious historical treaty”
Coffee Trivia
