minutes
UK[ˈmɪnɪts]US[ˈmɪnɪts]
n
A written record of what was said and decided at a formal meeting.
n
A period of time equal to sixty seconds; the sixtieth part of an hour.
Etymology
The journey of 'minutes' begins with the Latin adjective 'minutus', meaning "small, made small", the past participle of 'minuere' (to lessen). This term entered Middle English via Old French 'minut', initially referring to a 60th part of an hour—a "small" division of time. In the late 16th century, the term was applied to the "small" or precise written notes taken during a meeting, which were a concise record of proceedings. Thus, the core semantic thread from "smallness" connects the measurement of a brief time unit to the succinct, detailed documentation of discussions.
Analysis
The word 'minutes' is the plural form of the simplex noun 'minute'. The root 'minute' is a loanword from Latin 'minuta', a feminine form of 'minutus' meaning "small, minute". In this context, it refers to a "small note" or a "draft", which evolved to mean a precise, detailed record.
Examples
The secretary will circulate the minutes of yesterday's board meeting by Friday.
The train was delayed by approximately ten minutes.
His objections were carefully noted in the official minutes.