minor (English)

Where does "minor" come from?

The English word 'minor' traces its ultimate origins to the Proto-Indo-European root '*mey-', meaning small or little[2]. This root yielded Proto-Italic '*minōs', where the comparative suffix was added[3]. Latin later inherited this as 'minor', carrying the meanings of lesser, young, or young person[1]. Through direct borrowing, as well as influence from Norman and Middle French forms like 'menor', the word entered Middle English before arriving in its modern form[1]. It shares a doublet relationship with the word 'minus'.

Open questions

The Proto-Italic form '*minōs' is reconstructed rather than directly attested. [2] [3]
The irregular sound change from expected '*mejj-' to '*min-' in the Proto-Italic form is attributed to the influence of the related verb '*minuō'. [3]

Full etymology tree

minor (English), 'Ellipsis of minor point (“a lesser score formerly gained by certain actions”).'
- borrowed minor (Latin), 'comparative degree of parvus:'
  - derived *minōs (Proto-Italic), 'less'
    - inherited *mey- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to strengthen'
- borrowed menor (Middle French)
  - inherited minorem (Latin), 'accusative singular of minor'
    - derived minor (Latin), 'comparative degree of parvus:'
      - derived *minōs (Proto-Italic), 'less'
        inherited *mey- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to strengthen'

Ancestors

minor (Latin)

Cognates and doublets

minus (English)
minimum (Latin)

Descendants and derived words

harmonic minor (English)
Hungarian minor (English)
mature minor (English)
minor-attracted person (English)
minoress (English)
minoress (English)

Sources

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris