minor

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈmɪ.nɔr]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.nor]^[1]

Forms

minor (comparative, neuter minus, adverb minus); third declension^[1]

Etymology

It serves as the comparative of parvus “small”.^[2] It is inherited from Proto-Italic *minōs (“less”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *meih₁-iōs- (“less”), from a root meaning “small, little”.^[3] Cognate with Oscan minstreis (“smaller”) and Ancient Greek μείων (meíōn, “smaller”),^[3] and with Old English min (“small”).^[2] De Vaan derives minister and minimus from the same Italic stem, and mīscellus from a diminutive of minusculus.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan records it from the Twelve Tables onwards.^[3] Plautus uses it of a wall that grows smaller by a brick every night.^[2] Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant smaller in size or in number, and of age younger, with or without nātū.^[2] Of abstract things it meant smaller in degree and less important, and of persons inferior in rank, as deī minōrēs “the lesser gods” in Plautus and pontificēs minōrēs in Cicero.^[2] The neuter minus served as noun and adverb “less”.^[2][3] In the poetic plural minōrēs were descendants, and as a noun it was a person under age.^[1]

In medieval Latin it was a subordinate, a Franciscan friar (a frāter minor), and in logic the minor premise of a syllogism.^[4] English minor first appears in the early 13th century in frere menour, a Franciscan.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^[3][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of the lesser gods.^[2][4]
• before 1253 – It names the minor premise of a syllogism in British medieval Latin.^[4]
• early 13th century – English minor appears in a phrase for a Franciscan friar.^[5]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Smaller in size or extent.^[2][6]
2. Smaller in number or value; cheaper.^[2][1]
3. Younger.^[2]
4. Less important; inferior in rank, subordinate.^[2]
5. As a noun, a person under age, a minor; in the plural, descendants.^[1]
6. (Medieval Latin) A Franciscan friar; the minor premise of a syllogism.^[4]

Word family

• minus
• minusculus

Related words

• minimus
• minister
• parvus
• English minor
• English minus

Usage notes

A different word is the deponent verb minor, minārī “to jut out; to threaten”, from minae “threats”.^[2][6]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press