minion English · revision 1388

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪnjən/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|mignon|t=darling, favourite]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old French ''mignot'' “dainty, pretty”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) a word of uncertain origin,^(Etymonline) perhaps Celtic (compare Old Irish ''mín'' “tender”)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) or from Old High German ''minna'' “love”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A beloved person or lover (1500–20),^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995) and the favourite of a prince or great person (1501).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the 16th and 17th centuries the word could be used without disparagement for a darling or favourite.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) But from about 1500 a minion was also an intriguing favourite who owed everything to a patron,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and so a servile dependent.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The disparaging sense prevailed,^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD) and the word now usually means a servile follower or underling.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary) In printing it names a 7-point type.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1500–20 – a lover or favourite.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1501 – a favourite of a sovereign; a servile dependent.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1560 – a contemptuous term of address.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1566 – a specially favoured friend or child.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A servile follower or underling, especially of a powerful person; a [[sycophant]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A minor or subordinate official.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A favourite or darling.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(printing)'' A size of [[type]], 7 points.^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mignon]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}