miniature English · revision 2421

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪnɪtʃə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmɪn(i)ətʃɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|it|miniatura|t=illumination of manuscripts, small picture]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from the past participle of ''miniare'' “to illuminate a manuscript”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) [[der|la|miniō|t=to colour red]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[der|la|minium|t=red lead]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) which was used in antiquity to make red ink.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A reduced image; anything represented on a small scale (before 1586).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its link with smallness comes from the small pictures in medieval manuscripts,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) helped by the chance resemblance to those Latin words for “small”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) In English it was used for the illuminating of manuscripts (1645) and for an illumination (1680), but above all for a small, finely detailed portrait, often on ivory or vellum (1716).^(OED 1989) The adjective “on a small scale” dates from 1714.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995) It was applied to dog breeds from 1889 and to miniature golf from 1893,^(Etymonline) and ''miniaturize'' was coined in 1946.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1586 – a representation on a small scale.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1645 – the illuminating of manuscripts (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680 – a picture in an illuminated manuscript.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1714 – adjective, on a small scale.^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1716 – a small, finely painted portrait.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1946 – ''miniaturize''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A copy or model on a much reduced scale.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Something small of its kind.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A small, finely detailed painting, especially a portrait on ivory or vellum.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A picture or decorated letter in an illuminated manuscript.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # The art of painting miniatures.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adjective===

+ # On a small or greatly reduced scale.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[miniaturist]]

+ * [[miniaturize]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minium]]

+ * [[miniate]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}