minion
/ˈmɪnjən/ noun, adjective
Forms minions
- noun A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being. “The archvillain deployed his minions to simultaneously rob every bank in the city.”
- noun A sycophantic follower.
- noun (uncountable, typography, printing) The size of type between nonpareil and brevier, standardized as 7-point.
- noun (obsolete) A loved one; one highly esteemed and favoured.
- noun (obsolete) An ancient form of ordnance with a calibre of about three inches.
- adjective (obsolete) Favoured, beloved; "pet".
Synonyms
disciple follower acolyte adjutant aide bootlicker flunkey footman satrap henchman hireling inferior lackey lap dog lickspittle man Friday myrmidon poodle retainer right-hand man
Etymology
First use appears c. 1490, from Middle French mignon (“lover, royal favourite, darling”), from Old French mignon (“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”), from Frankish *minnju (“love, friendship, affection, memory”), from Proto-Germanic *minjō (“affectionate thought, care”), from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”). Doublet of mignon.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Minimum. [Obs.] Burton.
- noun A loved one; one highly esteemed and favored; --in a good sense.
- noun An obsequious or servile dependent or agent of another; a fawning favorite. Sir J. Davies.
- adjective Fine; trim; dainty. [Obs.] "Their... minion dancing." Fryth.
Etymology [F. mignon, fr. OHG. minni love, G. minne; akin to E. mind. See Mind, and cf. Mignonette.]
Etymology [See 2d Minion.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “minion”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details