MINCE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Mince

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/mɪns/ Listen

noun

Mince n. A short, precise step; an affected manner.

verb

Mince v. t. (past & past part. minced; pres. part. minging)

To cut into very small pieces; to chop fine; to hash; as, to mince meat.

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. "I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to say "I love you."" "Siren, now mince the sin, And mollify damnation with a phrase." "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."

To affect; to make a parade of. (R.)

Mince v. i.

To walk with short steps; to walk in a prim, affected manner. "The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes,... mincing as they go." "I 'll... turn two mincing steps Into a manly stride."

To act or talk with affected nicety; to affect delicacy in manner.

See images of 'Mince'

Etymology of 'Mince'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Mince" Quotes from Famous Books

... Port in the evening, through the squire's persistent inquiries as to whether a woman had anything to do with my staying so long abroad. 'A lady, sir?' quoth Peterborough. 'Lady, if you like,' rejoined the squire. 'You parsons and petticoats must always mince the meat to hash the fact.' Peterborough defended his young friend Harry's moral reputation, and was amazed to hear that the squire did not think highly of a man's chastity. The squire acutely chagrined the sensitive gentleman by drawling the word after ...

— The Shaving of Shagpat • George Meredith

... more than usually full and busy this year immediately after Christmas. It seemed as though it were admitted by all the Liberal party generally that the sadness of the occasion ought to rob the season of its usual festivities. Who could eat mince pies or think of Twelfth Night while so terribly wicked a scheme was in progress for keeping the real majority out in the cold? It was the injustice of the thing that rankled so deeply,—that, and a sense of inferiority to the cleverness displayed by ...

— Phineas Redux • Anthony Trollope

... have described the disorders of their service, the utter ruin of it, the corruption that prevailed in it, and the destruction of the country by it. When we are said to exaggerate, we use no stronger words than they do. We cannot mince the matter; your Lordships should not mince it; no little paltry delicacies should hinder you, when there is a country expiring under all these things, from calling the authors to a strict account. The Court of Directors sent him that statement; ...

— The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. XII. (of XII.) • Edmund Burke

... have a thin slice of bread toasted very lightly; divide it into sippets, and lay them round the dish: pour the mince and sauce into the middle of it, and split the feet, and lay them ...

— The Cook's Oracle; and Housekeeper's Manual • William Kitchiner

... upon my word and honour they are much better worth listening to than I am. So let them sing to you as hard as ever they can, while their sweet voices last (they will be silent when the winter comes); and very likely after you and I have eaten our next Christmas pudding and mince-pies, you and I and Uncle Harry may all meet together at St. James's Hall; Uncle Harry to bring you there, to hear the "Boots;" I to receive you there, and read the "Boots;" and you (I hope) to applaud very much, and tell me that you like the "Boots." So, God bless you and me, and ...

— The Letters of Charles Dickens - Vol. 2 (of 3), 1857-1870 • Charles Dickens

More quotes...