mint

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A place where coins are officially made.

   The old coins were produced at the royal mint.

2. 2
   verb

   To make coins, usually in large amounts.

   The government minted a special coin for the celebration.

3. 3
   adj

   In perfect, like-new condition.

   The old book is still in mint condition.

4. 4
   noun

   A very large amount of money (informal).

   That painting must be worth a mint.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Mint has two unrelated origins. The mint where coins are made comes from Latin moneta, also the source of money; the name of the aromatic plant goes back to Greek minthē and is related to menthol.

From Middle English minten, from Old English myntan (“to mean, intend, purpose, determine, resolve”), from Proto-West Germanic *muntijan (“to think, consider”), from Proto-Indo-European *men-, *mnā- (“to think”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian mintsje, muntsje (“to aim, target”), Dutch munten (“to aim at, target”), German Low German münten (“to aim at”), German münzen (“to aim at”), Dutch monter (“cheerful, gladsome, spry”), Gothic 𐌼𐌿𐌽𐍃 (muns, “thought, opinion”), Old English munan (“to be mindful of, consider, intend”). More at mind.

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External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary