minor
UK[ˈmaɪnə]US[ˈmaɪnər]
adj
Lesser in importance, seriousness, or significance.
adj
Lesser or smaller in amount, extent, or size.
adj
(of a scale) Having intervals of a semitone between the second and third, and (usually) the fifth and sixth, and the seventh and eighth degrees.
n
A person under the age of full legal responsibility.
n
A minor key, interval, or scale.
v
(North American) Study or qualify in as a subsidiary subject at college or university.
Morpheme Breakdown
min
or
min
small
or
comparative suffix
Etymology
The word 'minor' entered English in the 13th century directly from the Latin adjective minor, which is the comparative form of parvus (small). Its root lies in the Proto-Indo-European mei-, conveying the sense of smallness or diminishment. The comparative suffix -or is integral, meaning the word literally signifies "smaller" or "lesser." This core meaning of being comparatively small or less important has been maintained through its journey into English, extending logically into legal, musical, and academic contexts to denote a subordinate or underage status.
Analysis
Structure: min (small) + or (comparative suffix)
- min: From Latin minor (smaller, less), from the Proto-Indo-European root mei- (to lessen, small).
- or: A Latin comparative suffix, indicating "more" or "tending to be".
Examples
He suffered only minor injuries in the accident.
She decided to minor in philosophy alongside her biology degree.
The piece shifts from a bright C major to a somber A minor.