comminutionn.
/kɒmɪˈnjuːʃən/ 1.
a. Reduction or breaking up into small fragments; pulverization, trituration.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > grinding or pounding > [noun]
grindc1200
grinding1340
contritionc1384
brayingc1440
milling1466
braisinga1500
comminution1578
pealing1582
pounding1591
contusion1617
pulping1640
pistillation1646
trituration1646
triture1657
commolition1658
grist1676
porphyrization1771
comminuting1776
atomization1865
micronization1941
micronizing1941
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or breaking up into constituent parts > [noun] > incohesion > separation into small pieces > minute
comminution1578
comminuting1776
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 13 Hardnes [of the teeth]..necessary to the Comminution of meate.
1701 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 3) i. 30 In all sorts of Serpents, there is no Mastication or Comminution of the Meat.
1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters iii. 33 The whole sulphur..suffers no change but comminution.
1878 F. J. Bell & E. R. Lankester tr. C. Gegenbaur Elements Compar. Anat. 213 The organs for the comminution of the food.
b. Surgery. Cf. comminuted adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > [noun] > broken or crushed condition
comminution1820
1820 A. Cooper Surg. Ess. (ed. 2) ii. 138 Compound fracture of the thigh attended with considerable comminutions of the femur.
2. transferred.
ΚΠ
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 108. ⁋4 This natural and necessary comminution of our lives.
1881 Times 23 July 11/5 The perpetual comminution, not to say destruction, of personal influence by change of locality [in Wesleyanism].
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3. Mathematics. Proposed by De Morgan for ‘diminution (of two quantities) together without limit’: see comminuent n.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1578