com-mĭnŭo, ŭi, ūtum, 3, v. a., to make small, either by breaking into many small parts, or by removing parts from the whole (class. in prose and poetry).
I To separate into small parts , to break or crumble to pieces , to crush , split , etc.: saxo cere comminuit brum, Enn. ap. Serv. ad Verg. A. 1, 412 (Ann. v. 586 Vahl.): fores et postes securibus, Plaut. Bacch. 5, 1, 31: ossa atque artua illo scipione, id. Men. 5, 2, 103: tibi caput, id. Rud. 4, 4, 74: illi statuam... deturbant, affligunt, comminuunt, dissipant, Cic. Pis. 38, 93: scalas, Sall. J. 60, 7: anulum, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 25, § 56: lapidem, Plin. 2, 103, 106, § 233: vitrea, Stat. S. 1, 6, 73: fabas molis, Ov. Med. Fac. 72: vasa crystallina, Petr. 64.—Also of medicines: calculos, Plin. 20, 4, 13, § 23.—Fig.: diem articulatim, i.e. to divide into hours , Plaut. ap. Gell. 3, 3, 5.—
II To lessen , diminish.
A Lit. (very rare): argenti pondus et auri, * Hor. S. 1, 1, 43: opes civitatis, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 37, § 98: regni opes, Sall. J. 62, 1.—
2 Transf. to persons: re familiari comminuti sumus, Cic. Att. 4, 3, 6.—
B Trop. (freq.), to weaken , impair , enervate : nullum esse officium tam sanctum atque solenne, quod non avaritia comminuere atque violare soleat, Cic. Quint. 8, 26: ingenia, Quint. 1, 7, 33; cf.: ingenii vires, Ov. P. 3, 3, 34; and, animum, Plin. Ep. 9, 2, 1.—
2 Transf. to persons: Viriathus, quem C. Laelius praetor fregit et comminuit, Cic. Off. 2, 11, 40; so of enemies, Flor. 1, 3, 3; 2, 6, 28: nec te natalis origo Comminuit (i. e. animum tuum), Ov. M. 12, 472: lacrimis comminuēre meis, i.e. vinceris, commoveberis, id. H. 3, 134.