Where does “minimalism” come from?
Minimalism derives from English minimal, which comes from Latin minimus meaning "smallest," blended with English aldehyde to form the aesthetic and artistic movement emphasizing reduction to essential elements.
minimalism (English): A style of art that emphasises extreme simplicity...
Definitions
- A style of art that emphasises extreme simplicity...
Ancestry of “minimalism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | minimal | The smallest possible amount, quantity, or... |
| 2 | English | -ál | Of or pertaining to. Adjectival suffix appended to various words, often nouns, to produce an adjective form. Often added to words of Latin origin, but used with other words also |
| 3 | English | aldehyde | Any of a large class of reactive organic... |
| 4 | German | Aldehyd | aldehyde |
| 5 | Latin | alcohol | kohl, collyrium, stibium; any other powder... |
| 6 | Andalusian Arabic | كُحُول | — |
| 7 | Arabic | كحل | antimony; kohl, stibnite; black coloring of the... |
| 8 | Arabic | كُحْل | antimony; kohl, stibnite |
| 9 | Akkadian | guḫlum | kohl, antimony paste |