minor

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a young person of either sex
  2. adjective of lesser importance or stature or rank
  3. adjective lesser in scope or effect

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

child, kid, youngster, shaver, nipper, small fry, tiddler, tike, tyke, fry, nestling

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