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mint1

[mint]
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noun
  1. any aromatic herb of the genus Mentha, having opposite leaves and small, whorled flowers, as the spearmint and peppermint.Compare mint family.
  2. a soft or hard confection, often shaped like a wafer, that is usually flavored with peppermint and often served after lunch or dinner.
  3. any of various flavored hard candies packaged as a roll of small round wafers.
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adjective
  1. made or flavored with mint: mint tea.
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Origin of mint1

before 1000; Middle English, Old English minte (cognate with Old High German minza) < Latin ment(h)a < Greek mínthē

mint2

[mint]
noun
  1. a place where coins, paper currency, special medals, etc., are produced under government authority.
  2. a place where something is produced or manufactured
  3. a vast amount, especially of money: He made a mint in oil wells.
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adjective
  1. Philately. (of a stamp) being in its original, unused condition.
  2. unused or appearing to be newly made and never used: a book in mint condition.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to make (coins, money, etc.) by stamping metal.
  2. to turn (metal) into coins: to mint gold into sovereigns.
  3. to make or fabricate; invent: to mint words.
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Origin of mint2

before 900; Middle English mynt, Old English mynet coin < Latin monēta coin, mint, after the temple of Juno Monēta, where Roman money was coined
Related formsmint·er, noun

mint3

[mint]Scot. and North England
noun
  1. intent; purpose.
  2. an attempt; try; effort.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to try (something); attempt.
  2. to take aim at (something) with a gun.
  3. to hit or strike at (someone or something).
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verb (used without object)
  1. to try; attempt.
  2. to take aim.
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Origin of mint3

before 900; (v.) Middle English minten, Old English (ge)myntan to intend; akin to mind; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the v.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mint

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • We stuffed the pink dainties with mint, and baked them in balls of clay.

    In the Valley

    Harold Frederic

  • That brown skull was more precious to him than a mint of money.

  • The preserve of tigers alone is worth a mint of money, David.'

  • Now a mint was set up in Eden Vale, and the coinage underwent a reform.

    Freeland

    Theodor Hertzka

  • Tak tent what ye say, or mint at sayin, to persuaud him:—Isy 'ill be upo ye!

    Salted With Fire

    George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for mint

mint1

noun
  1. any N temperate plant of the genus Mentha, having aromatic leaves and spikes of small typically mauve flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates). The leaves of some species are used for seasoning and flavouringSee also peppermint, spearmint, horsemint, water mint
  2. stone mint another name for dittany (def. 2)
  3. a sweet flavoured with mint
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Derived Formsminty, adjective

Word Origin

Old English minte, from Latin mentha, from Greek minthē; compare Old High German minza

mint2

noun
  1. a place where money is coined by governmental authority
  2. a very large amount of moneyhe made a mint in business
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adjective
  1. (of coins, postage stamps, etc) in perfect condition as issued
  2. British informal excellent; impressive
  3. in mint condition in perfect condition; as if new
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verb
  1. to make (coins) by stamping metal
  2. (tr) to invent (esp phrases or words)
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Derived Formsminter, noun

Word Origin

Old English mynet coin, from Latin monēta money, mint, from the temple of Juno Monēta, used as a mint in ancient Rome
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

Word Origin and History for mint

n.1

aromatic herb, Old English minte (8c.), from West Germanic *minta (cf. Old Saxon minta, M.D. mente, Old High German minza, German Minze), a borrowing from Latin menta, mentha "mint," from Greek minthe, personified as a nymph transformed into an herb by Proserpine, probably a loan-word from a lost Mediterranean language.

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n.2

place where money is coined, early 15c., from Old English mynet "coin, coinage, money" (8c.), from West Germanic *munita (cf. Old Saxon munita, Old Frisian menote, Middle Dutch munte, Old High German munizza, German münze), from Latin moneta "mint" (see money). Earlier word for "place where money is coined" was minter (early 12c.). General sense of "a vast sum of money" is from 1650s.

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v.

"to stamp metal to make coins," 1540s, from mint (n.2). Related: Minted; minting. Minter "one who stamps coins to create money" is from early 12c.

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adj.

"perfect" (like a freshly minted coin), 1887 (in mint condition), from mint (n.2).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper