Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “minion” come from?

Minion comes from Middle French mignon, from Old French mignon, from Frankish minnjo, from Proto-Germanic minþijō, from Proto-Indo-European men-.

minion (English): A loyal servant of another, usually a more...

Definitions

  1. A loyal servant of another, usually a more...

Ancestry of “minion”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchmignonlover, darling, favourite; lover, royal...
2Old Frenchmignondainty, pleasing, gentle, kind
3Frankishminnjulove, friendship, affection, memory
4Proto-Germanic*minjō—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmen-to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...

Words derived from “minion”

  • minionette
  • minionhood
  • minionlike
  • minionish
  • minionly
  • miniondom
  • minionship
  • minioning
Every word from Proto-Indo-European men- →