minimal English · revision 7888

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1666}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪn.ɪ.məl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmɪn.ə.məl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from Latin [[m|la|minimus|t=smallest, least]] (see [[minim]]) and -al,^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) or from [[minimum]] and -al.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Extremely small, constituting a minimum: 1666 in the OED and MWU, the 1660s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of a form of painting and sculpture it is from 1958,^(OED 1989) and in music a style built on the repetition of short phrases from 1974.^(OED 1989) Only barely adequate is a further sense.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1666 – extremely small.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1958 – minimal art.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1974 – minimal music.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Smallest possible in amount or degree; [[minimum]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Very small, or only barely adequate.^(AHD)

+ # Of or relating to [[minimalism]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[minimality]]

+ * [[minimally]]

+ * [[minimalism]]

+ * [[minimalist]]

+ * [[minimalize]]

+ * [[nonminimal]]

+ * [[subminimal]]

+ * [[minimal brain dysfunction]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minimum]]

+ * [[minim]]

+ * [[minimize]]

+ * [[minor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}