mince French · revision 16998

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=back-formation|attested=1306, Guillaume Guiart, Branche des royaus lignages|origins=la minutus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mɛ̃s/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''mince''' (plural minces)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a deverbal formation from the old verb [[m|fro|mincier|t=to cut into small pieces]], later [[m|fro|mincer]],^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)^(Grand Robert 2005) which Bloch and Wartburg describe as an infinitive older than [[menuiser]], before that verb was remade on its stressed forms.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989) Rey traces it to [[la-vul|*minūtiō|t=to make small]], an altered form of [[la-lat|minūtō]] (5th–6th centuries), from [[la|minūtus|t=small]], the source of [[menu]].^(DHLF 1992)^(REW 1935) In Old French the verb was mostly a cooking word; outside the regions it gave way to [[émincer]].^(DHLF 1992) For the first sense, a small coin, the TLFi compares [[la-med|minutum]] and [[m|la-med|minuta]] “small coin” (14th century).^(TLFi)

+

+ Other explanations exist.^(Littré 1873)^(Wiktionary) Littré thought the origin uncertain and rejected both Diez's derivation from [[goh|minnisto|t=smallest]] and a link with [[la|mancus|t=maimed]].^(Littré 1873) Wiktionary derives the verb from [[frk|*minnistō|t=smaller, finer]] or [[m|frk|*minnisōn|t=to make smaller]].^(Wiktionary) Romance relatives of the Vulgar Latin verb include [[it|minuzzare]] and [[osp|menuzar]].^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(REW 1935)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Guillaume Guiart uses ''mince'' in 1306 as a noun for a small coin worth half a denier;^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005) the word still meant “money” in 16th-century slang.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adjective drawn from the noun meant “penniless, wretched” about 1460–1480 (Villon, Coquillart).^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989) Only in the 16th century did it take the concrete sense “having little thickness” (early 16th century) and, of a body, “slender” (1560, in a Bible printed by Antoine Rebul);^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) Rey suggests that a ''pièce mince'' could be both a coin of little value and a thin one.^(DHLF 1992) From before 1646 it was used of abstract things of little importance (Maynard: ''Vostre noblesse est mince''),^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992) and in classical French also of a person deserving little consideration (1652).^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ The interjection ''mince !'' “drat!” is recorded in 1881 (Richepin);^(TLFi) Rey derives it probably from slang ''mince que…'' (1878) and the ironic ''mince de…'' “plenty of…”, an intensive like ''sacré'', though he calls the development unclear.^(DHLF 1992) Wiktionary instead takes it as a minced oath standing for [[merde]].^(Wiktionary) The noun [[minceur]] dates from 1782 and the verb [[amincir]] from 1690.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1306 – A small coin, in Guillaume Guiart.^(TLFi)

+ * c. 1480 – “Penniless”, in Guillaume Coquillart.^(TLFi)

+ * Early 16th century – “Thin”, of things.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1560 – “Slender”, of the body.^(TLFi)

+ * Before 1646 – “Of little importance”.^(TLFi)

+ * 1690 – The verb ''amincir''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)

+ * 1694 – Recorded by the Académie.^(TLFi)

+ * 1782 – The noun ''minceur''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1790 – Slang for letter paper.^(TLFi)

+ * 1881 – The interjection ''mince !''.^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|thin|alt=Thin]], having little thickness: ''Une mince couche de neige'', ''couper de la viande en tranches minces''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(GLLF 1989)

+ # Narrow, [[m|en|slender]]: ''mince filet d'eau''.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Of a person, [[m|en|slim]], slender.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(figurative)'' Slight, of little importance or value.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ===Interjection===

+ # ''(familiar)'' [[m|en|drat|alt=Drat]]!, darn! (expressing annoyance).^(Wiktionary)^(DHLF 1992)

+ # ''(familiar)'' Wow! (expressing surprise).^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minceur]]

+ * [[amincir]]

+ * [[émincer]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[menu]]

+ * [[menuiser]]

+ * [[la|minutus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}