The action of enervating; the state of being enervated: see enervate, v.

Dilution with water. In later use occasionally with down (cf. to water down 1b at water, v. phrasal verbs).

The action of diluting; a making thin, fluid, or weaker by the admixture of water or other reducing substance; watering down.

The action of weaken, v. in various senses; an instance of this.

The action of enervate, v. literal and figurative.

Hurtful relaxation, softening, or weakening; enfeeblement. Obsolete.

Making lean; figurative enfeebling.

The action or process of enfeebling; the state of being enfeebled.

= dilution, n.

figurative. With down. The action of reducing the strength, force, or quality of something. Cf. to water down 1a at water, v. phrasal verbs.

The process of weakening, as if by dilution; diminution of characteristic force. spec. of a disease, or of the pathogenicity of a micro-organism…