minIm, mini me, minum, min ume

& a. [Fr. mini me, from Lat. minimum, minumum, acc us. of minimus, minumus very small.] A. As substantive: *I. Ordinary Language: 1. A little man or being; a dwarf, a pigmy. "Minims of nature."- Milton : P. L., vii. 482. 2. A minnow (q. v.). *3. A short poem. "To make one mini me of thy poor handmayd." Spenser: F. Q., VI. x. 28. II. Technically : 1. Eccles. & Church Hist . ( pl .): The popular name of the Minim-Hermits founded by St. Francis of Paola (1416-1507). The rule and dre closely resem ble those of the Francis cans, but the life led by the members is in great measure contemplative. They were called Minims by their founder to humble them below the Francis cans, who call themselves Friars Minor. The order consists of monks, nuns, and tertiaries (q. v.). ( Addis and Arnold .) 2. Med .: The smallest liquid measure, generally regarded as equal to one drop. Sixty minims make one fluid drachm. 3. Mus .: A time character of the value of two crotchets. In modern music it is second in value to the semibreve now held to be the time standard, but in ancient music it was, as its name implies, of the shortest duration. Morley ( Introd . to Practic all 2717 Musicke , 1601) ascribes the first use, if not the invention, of the minim to Philippo de Vitriaco, a musician of the fourteenth century, who is also credited with the invention of the crotchet. *4. Print.: A small kind of type; minion. B. As adj.: Very little. "Turned round each minion prettine of face." Tennant: Anster Fair , vi. 60. *min-1-ment (2), s. [Lat. minimum =the least.] A jewel, a trinket, a trifle, a toy. "Upon a day as she him sate beside, By chance he certaine miniments forth drew." Spenser: F. Q., IV. viii. 6. *min-Im-If-1-çence, s. [Formed from Lat. min imus least, in imitation of magnificence .) Little doings. "When all your magnificences and my minimificences are finished."- Walpole : Letters , ii. 122. *min-i-mi-ne , s. [Lat. minimus least; Eng. suff.-ne .] Extreme smallne . "The very minim in e , as I may say, of it."-Andrewes: Works, i. 160.