minor: [13] Latin minor ‘less’ was a comparative form based on the element min- ‘small’ (source of English minute and a whole range of other ‘small’-words). The noun derived from it, minus ‘less’, was taken over by English in the 15th century. => minute
minor (n.)
early 14c., "a Franciscan," from Latin Fratres Minores "lesser brethren," name chosen by St. Francis, who founded the order, for the sake of humility; see minor (adj.). From c. 1400 as "minor premise of a syllogism." From 1610s as "person under legal age" (Latin used minores (plural) for "the young"). Musical sense is from 1797. Meaning "secondary subject of study, subject of study with fewer credits than a major" is from 1890; as a verb in this sense from 1934.
minor (adj.)
early 13c., menour "Franciscan" (see minor (n.)), from Latin minor "less, lesser, smaller, junior," figuratively "inferior, less important," formed as a masculine/feminine form of minus on the mistaken assumption that minus was a neuter comparative, from PIE root *mei- (2) "small" (see minus).
Some English usages are via Old French menor "less, smaller, lower; underage, younger," from Latin minor. Meaning "underage" is from 1570s. Meaning "lesser" in English is from early 15c.; that of "less important" is from 1620s. The musical sense is from 1690s. In the baseball sense, minor league is from 1884; the figurative extension is first recorded 1926.
例文
1. He had a minor stroke in 1987、which left him partly paralysed.
彼は1987年に軽度中風を患っていたが、その後半身不随になった。
2.He had a minor operation to remove a cyst.
嚢胞を切除する小さな手術を受けた。
3.Aloe may have an analgesic effect on inframmation and minor skin irritations.
アロエは炎症および軽い皮膚炎症に鎮痛作用を持つ可能性がある。
4.Hers was a minor part，but she played it with gusto.
彼女は小さな役を演じているが、とても気合が入っている。
5.Even minor head injuries can cause long-lasting psychological effects.