minor

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   inferior in number or size or amount

   a minor share of the profits

2. 2
   adj

   lesser in scope or effect

   had minor differences

3. 3
   adj

   not of legal age

   minor children

4. 4
   adj

   of a scale or mode

   the minor keys

5. 5
   adj

   of lesser importance or stature or rank

   a minor poet

6. 6
   adj

   of lesser seriousness or danger

   suffered only minor injuries

7. 7
   adj

   Lesser, smaller in importance, size, degree, seriousness, or significance compared to another option, particularly

   of minor importance

8. 8
   noun

   A child, a person who has not reached the age of majority, consent, etc. and is legally subject to fewer responsibilities and less accountability and entitled to fewer legal rights and privileges.

   No, he can't get a mortgage or sell the house. He's still a minor. For the most part, he can't sign a legally binding contract.

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.