Mince /(mĭns)/

imp. & p. p. Minced; p. pr. & vb. n. Minging

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

   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.

3. To affect; to make a parade of. [R.]

1. 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.

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

1. A short, precise step; an affected manner.