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Where does the word "minor" come from? It comes from Latin minor, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
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Where does the word "minor" come from? It comes from Latin minor, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
Minor’s story begins in Latin: minor meant “smaller.” Comparative of 'parvus', small. It reached English by 1200s as minor. Legal 'minors' date from the 1500s. Today, minor means lesser in importance; a person under full legal age.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient minor "smaller", comparative of 'parvus', small.
- Stage 2 · English · 1200s minor "smaller", legal 'minors' date from the 1500s.