Emily Dickinson Lexicon

reduce (-d, -s), v. [L. redūcěre, bring back, restore, replace < re-, again + dūcěre, lead, bring.] (webplay: consequence, excellence, known, place, poverty, price, proportion, smaller, spirit).

1. Diminish; decrease; depreciate; devalue; cause to seem small and unimportant in comparison.
2. Shrink; lessen; grow smaller.
3. Degrade; cheapen; debase; demean.
4. [Fig.] eliminate; destroy; kill; suppress; repress; subdue; extinguish; quench; snuff out; put down; do away with.