Etymologically
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minute

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Forms

minūtē (comparative minūtius, superlative minūtissimē)[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin minūtus (“small; petty”) + -ē, the adverb of the adjective,[1][2][3] which is the participle of minuō (“to make smaller, lessen”).[4][5] De Vaan derives that verb from Proto-Italic *minu-je/o- (“to lessen”) and Proto-Indo-European *mi-n(e)-h₁- (“to make less”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest quotation is from Cato's De agricultura, infriato quam minutissime, “crumble it in as finely as possible”.[1][5]

Semantic evolution

Cato also has the soil dug finely.[6][7] Lucretius uses it in explaining Anaxagoras' theory that kinds of plants lie hidden in tiny form in clods,[1] and Seneca of a history written in very small letters.[2][6] In rhetoric it is “in a petty style”: Cicero says the orator will not speak of great things meanly;[1][7] Quintilian uses the comparative of examining things with finer distinctions.[1][7] Medieval writers in Britain use it of grinding small and of a thin voice.[8]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato has quam minūtissimē, “as finely as possible”.[1][5]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of things on a tiny scale.[1][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a petty style.[1][7][5]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca writes of a history in tiny script.[2][5]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it of fine distinctions.[1][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Into small pieces, finely.[1][2]
  2. On a small scale; in small writing.[1][2]
  3. In a petty style, meanly.[1][7]
  4. With fine distinctions, minutely.[1][7]
  5. (Medieval Latin) Thinly (of a voice).[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c d e f Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press