minced

Mince \Mince\ (m[i^]ns), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Minced}
   (m[i^]nst); p. pr. & vb. n. {Minging} (m[i^]n"s[i^]ng).] [AS.
   minsian to grow less, dwindle, fr. min small; akin to G.
   minder less, Goth. minniza less, mins less, adv., L. minor,
   adj. (cf. {Minor}); or more likely fr. F. mincer to mince,
   prob. from (assumed) LL. minutiare. [root]101. See {Minish}.]
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   1. To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine; to hash; as,
      to mince meat. --Bacon.
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   2. To suppress or weaken the force of; to extenuate; to
      palliate; to tell by degrees, instead of directly and
      frankly; to clip, as words or expressions; to utter half
      and keep back half of; as, he doesn't mince words.
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            I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to
            say -- "I love you."                  --Shak.
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            Siren, now mince the sin,
            And mollify damnation with a phrase.  --Dryden.
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            If, to mince his meaning, I had either omitted some
            part of what he said, or taken from the strength of
            his expression, I certainly had wronged him.
                                                  --Dryden.
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   3. To affect; to make a parade of. [R.] --Shak.
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