minute

• n. 分，分钟；片刻，一会儿；备忘录，笔记；会议记录
• vt. 将…记录下来
• adj. 微小的，详细的 [maɪˈnjuːt; US -ˈnuːt; maɪˋnut]

词态变化

中文词源

来自拉丁语minutus,小的，少的，来自PIE*mei,小的，词源同minus,minimum.分钟义来自拉丁短语pars minuta prima,即prime minute part,最初被数学家用于指圈的1/60，后用于指小时的1/60，即1分钟。秒second来自拉丁短语secunda minuta,即second minute,第二个1/60，即1秒钟。

来自拉丁语minutus,小的，少的，来自PIE*mei,小的，词源同minus,minimum.引申词义极小的，微小的，后作用名词指会议记录。

英文词源

minute

minute: [14] Latin minūtus ‘small’ was a derivative of the verb minuere ‘lessen’ (source of English diminish), which itself was based on the element min- ‘small’. In medieval Latin the term pars minuta prima ‘first small part’ was applied to a ‘sixtieth part of a whole’ – originally of a circle, later of an hour (likewise a second was originally a secunda minuta, a sixtieth of a sixtieth).

Hence minūta itself came to be used for the unit of time, and that was the original meaning of minute when English acquired it via Old French. Its use for ‘note, record’ may derive from the Latin expression minuta scriptura, which denoted the writing of a rough draft in ‘small’ writing. The adjective minute ‘small’ was an independent 15th-century borrowing direct from Latin.

A French descendant of minūtus is the adjective menu ‘small’; its extended sense ‘detailed’ has led to its noun use for ‘list’, and the expression menu de repas ‘meal list’ has given English menu [19]. Other members of the extended family of English words that come ultimately from Latin min- include métier, mince, minim [15], minimum [17], minister, minor, minstrel, minuet [17], minus, minuscule [18], and minutia [15].
=> menu, métier, mince, minister, minor, minstrel, minus, minuscule

minute (n.)

"sixtieth part of an hour or degree," late 14c., from Old French minut (13c.) or directly from Medieval Latin minuta "minute, short note," from Latin minuta, noun use of fem. of minutus "small, minute" (see minute (adj.)). In Medieval Latin, pars minuta prima "first small part" was used by mathematician Ptolemy for one-sixtieth of a circle, later of an hour (next in order was secunda minuta, which became second (n.)). German Minute, Dutch minuut also are from French. Used vaguely for "short time" from late 14c. As a measure expressing distance (travel time) by 1886. Minute hand is attested from 1726.

minute (adj.)

early 15c., "chopped small," from Latin minutus "little, small, minute," past participle of minuere "to lessen, diminish" (see minus). Meaning "very small in size or degree" is attested from 1620s. Related: Minutely; minuteness.

双语例句

1. The Liberal Democrat'ssupport fell away at the last minute.

自由民主党的支持率在最后一刻有所下降。

来自柯林斯例句

2. The minute that the war started, everybody was glued to the television.

战事一起，所有人都盯紧了电视报道。

来自柯林斯例句

3. He'd telephoned with some phoney excuse she didn't believe for a minute.

他找了某个她根本不会相信的借口给她打电话。

来自柯林斯例句

4. Any minute now, that phone is going to ring.

那部电话随时可能响。

来自柯林斯例句

5. "Wait a damn minute," Mindy spat. "Nobody said anything about staying overnight."

“该死的，等一下”，明迪愤愤地说道，“谁也没说过要过夜。”

来自柯林斯例句