Minor Meaning
/ˈmaɪ.nəɹ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjLesser, smaller in importance, size, degree, seriousness, or significance compared to another option, particularly
adjLesser, smaller in importance, size, degree, seriousness, or significance compared to another option, Underage, not having reached legal majority.
Sentence Examples
A couple of flights were delayed on account of a minor accident.
There's no sense acting all triumphant like a conquering hero over such a minor thing.
The new plan involves widening a minor road through the valley.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The accident caused only ____ injuries, so no one was sent to the hospital.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The student's mistake on the final exam was only a ____ one, and it did not affect her overall high grade for the entire semester.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English minor, menor, menour, etc., from Latin minor (“lesser; young; young person”) both directly and via Norman and Middle French menor, menour, etc. Doublet of minus but not mini-. Cognate with minister, minify, Minorca, Menshevik, and possibly minnow. Compare Latin minimum and minuō, Old High German minniro, Cornish minow.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Here we se thre proposicions, or sentences, whereof the first is called Maior, that is to saie, the proposicion at large. the seconde is called Minor, that is to saie, the seuerall proposicion. the thirde is called conclusio."
— 1551, Thomas Wilson, The Rule of Reason..., published 1970, sig. F8:
"It is my intention to wait a few years before I publish any minor poems."
— 1819 January 2, John Keats, letter:
"There is now such an immense "microliterature" on hepatics that, beyond a certain point I have given up trying to integrate (and evaluate) every minor paper published—especially narrowly floristic papers."
— 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page viii:
"...a certaine Fraction, which may be the difference betwixt a Tone major and a Tone minor, which we nominate a Schism..."
— 1653 [1618], René Descartes, translated by Lord Brouncker, Excellent Compendium of Musick, page 30:
"The minor mode of D is tender."
— 1772, William Jones, “On the Arts, Commonly Called Imitative”, in Poems..., page 209:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The accident caused only ____ injuries, so no one was sent to the hospital.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The student's mistake on the final exam was only a ____ one, and it did not affect her overall high grade for the entire semester.