minor Latin · revision 4462

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *meih₁-iōs-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmɪ.nɔr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.nor]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''minor''' (comparative, neuter minus, adverb minus); third declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It serves as the comparative of [[parvus]] “small”.^(OLD 2012) It is [[inh|itc-pro|*minōs|t=less]], [[inh|ine-pro|*meih₁-iōs-|t=less]], from a root meaning “small, little”.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[osc|minstreis|t=smaller]] and [[grc|μείων|tr=meíōn|t=smaller]],^(de Vaan 2008) and with [[ang|min|t=small]].^(OLD 2012) De Vaan derives [[minister]] and [[minimus]] from the same Italic stem, and [[miscellus|alt=mīscellus]] from a diminutive of [[minusculus]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan records it from the Twelve Tables onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus uses it of a wall that grows smaller by a brick every night.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates the Twelve Tables c. 450 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant smaller in size or in number, and of age younger, with or without ''nātū''.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012) The neuter [[minus]] served as noun and adverb “less”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) In the poetic plural ''minōrēs'' were descendants, and as a noun it was a person under age.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ In medieval Latin it was a subordinate, a Franciscan friar (a ''frāter minor''), and in logic the minor premise of a syllogism.^(Köbler 2010) [[en|minor]] first appears in the early 13th century in ''frere menour'', a Franciscan.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus speaks of the lesser gods.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * before 1253 – It names the minor premise of a syllogism in British medieval Latin.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 13th century – English ''minor'' appears in a phrase for a Franciscan friar.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Smaller in size or extent.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Smaller in number or value; cheaper.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Younger.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Less important; inferior in rank, [[m|en|subordinate]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # As a noun, a person under age, a [[m|en|minor]]; in the plural, descendants.^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|Franciscan]] friar; the minor premise of a [[m|en|syllogism]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minus]]

+ * [[minusculus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minimus]]

+ * [[minister]]

+ * [[parvus]]

+ * [[en|minor]]

+ * [[en|minus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A different word is the deponent verb ''minor, minārī'' “to jut out; to threaten”, from [[minae]] “threats”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}