minuo Latin · revision 7034

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *mey-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmiː.nu.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''minuō''' (present infinitive minuere, perfect active minuī, supine minūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*minuō]], from a nasal present *mi-néw-ti of [[ine-pro|*mey-|t=small, little]].^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sa|मीनाति|tr=minā́ti|t=to lessen, damage]], [[grc|μινύθω|tr=minúthō|t=to lessen]], [[got|𐌼𐌹𐌽𐍃|tr=mins|t=less]] and [[cu|мьнйии|tr=mĭnjii|t=smaller]].^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(TLL) The OLD relates it to [[minor]] “smaller”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of impairing something.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to make smaller, reduce in size, and in Pliny to slim the body, to reduce in number or value, and in Varro's grammar to form a diminutive.^(OLD 2012) Cato uses it of chopping up, and Ovid of breaking wood into small pieces.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant to lessen a feeling or activity, tone down a statement, restrict, and to impair, weaken, so that ''māiestātem minuere'' was to commit treason against the state, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) It also meant to minimize, to subtract, and in the middle sense to grow smaller, as in Caesar.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to diminish, abate, reduce.^(Stelten 1995) A first-conjugation variant ''minuāre'', attested from the 4th century AD, gave Spanish ''menguar'' and Portuguese ''minguar''.^(Wiktionary) Its participle [[minūtus]] “small” is the source of [[en|minute]] and [[en|menu]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of impairing.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of chopping up.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of lessening.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses ''māiestātem minuere''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4th century AD – The variant ''minuāre'' appears.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make smaller, [[m|en|reduce]]; to slim.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To reduce in number or value, ''(grammar)'' to form a diminutive.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To break into small pieces, chop up.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)

+ # To lessen, abate; to tone down; to restrict.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To impair, weaken, ''māiestātem minuere'', to commit [[m|en|treason]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To represent as less, [[m|en|minimize]]; to subtract.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(middle)'' To grow less, decrease.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[comminuō]]

+ * [[dēminuō]]

+ * [[dīminuō]]

+ * [[imminuō]]

+ * [[imminūtus]]

+ * [[minuisco]]

+ * [[minūtal]]

+ * [[minūtālis]]

+ * [[minūtātim]]

+ * [[minūtiloquium]]

+ * [[minūtim]]

+ * [[minūtiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minor]]

+ * [[minūtus]]

+ * [[en|minute]]

+ * [[en|diminish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}