minion
[ min-yuh n ]
/ ˈmɪn yən /
noun
a servile follower or subordinate of a person in power.
a favored or highly regarded person.
a minor official.
Printing. a 7-point type.
adjective
dainty; elegant; trim; pretty.
RELATED WORDS
slave, stooge, lackey, dependent, parasite, follower, groupie, puppet, flatterer, subordinate, toady, fan, hanger-on, flunky, doormat, backscratcher, bootlicker
Nearby words
- mining bee,
- mining eng.,
- mining engineering,
- mining geology,
- mininuke,
- minion of the law,
- minipark,
- minipig,
- minipill,
- minirecorder
Origin of minion
1490–1500; < Middle French mignon, for Old French mignot dainty < ?
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for minion
minion
/ (ˈmɪnjən) /
noun
a favourite or dependant, esp a servile or fawning one
a servile agentthe minister's minions
a size of printer's type, approximately equal to 7 point
adjective
dainty, pretty, or elegant
Word Origin for minion
C16: from French mignon, from Old French mignot, of Gaulish origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
minion
c.1500, "a favorite; a darling; a low dependant; one who pleases rather than benefits" [Johnson], from Middle French mignon "a favorite, darling" (n.), also a term of (probably homosexual) abuse;" as an adjective, "dainty, pleasing, favorite," from Old French mignot "pretty, attractive, dainty, gracious, affectionate," perhaps of Celtic origin (cf. Old Irish min "tender, soft"), or from Old High German minnja, minna "love, memory" (see mind (n.)). Used 16c.-17c. without disparaging overtones.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper