comminuo

com-minuō (conm-) uī, ūtus, ere,

to divide into small parts, break, crumble, crush, split: scalas, S.: anulum. — To lessen, diminish: argenti pondus, H.: opes civitatis. — Fig., to weaken, impair, violate: officium.—To humble, reduce, crush, humiliate, prostrate: alqm: lacrimis comminuēre meis, overcome, O.: vires ingenii.