The word "minor" is a common noun that refers to something that is lesser or smaller in size or importance. Its pronunciation follows a common pattern in English, with the stressed syllable being the first and the second syllable being unstressed. This is reflected in the IPA phonetic transcription, where the stressed syllable "mi" is represented by the symbol /ˈmaɪnər/ and the unstressed syllable "nor" by /nər/. When it comes to spelling, "minor" has a silent "o" and the sound "i" is represented by the letter "i" and not "e."
Minor is an adjective that refers to something or someone of lesser importance, significance, or extent in comparison to others. It implies being below the age of legal adulthood or not yet reached full growth and development. It can also indicate something smaller in size, quantity, or degree. The term minor can be used to describe various aspects, such as legal, musical, or academic issues.
In legal terms, a minor is an individual who has not reached the age of majority, which depends on the jurisdiction but is commonly 18 years old. Minors are typically under the legal guardianship or supervision of their parents, and their actions or decisions are subject to certain restrictions until they attain legal adulthood. Laws and regulations concerning minors may differ across jurisdictions, governing various aspects such as consent, employment, and criminal responsibility.
In music, a minor refers to a scale, key, chord, or interval characterized by a lower pitch or darker tonality. It is often associated with melancholy, sadness, or emotional depth, contrasting with its counterpart, the major mode, which generally conveys a brighter and more cheerful tone.
Educationally, minor can represent a secondary area of study, in addition to one's major subject of specialization. It refers to a course of study that is of lesser importance or requires fewer credit hours than the major subject. A minor provides an opportunity for students to gain knowledge and skills in a complementary field, enhancing their overall academic experience and career prospects.
Overall, the term minor conveys the concept of lesser importance, youthfulness, or diminutive scale in various contexts.
• Less; smaller; inconsiderable; petty; unimportant; in music, lower by a semitone.
• A person under age; one under 21 years; in logic, the second proposition of a regular syllogism, called the minor term.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "minor" originated from Middle English, from the Latin word "minor" meaning "less" or "lesser". This Latin word is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*mei-" or "*moin-", which means "small" or "less". This root is also the source of other related words, such as "minus", "minute" (meaning "small"), and "minimize" (meaning "to make smaller").