Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “miniseries” come from?

Miniseries is a blend of mini and series, where series derives from Latin minium through Proto-Indo-European ser-.

miniseries (English): A radio or television series with a small number...

Definitions

  1. A radio or television series with a small number...

Ancestry of “miniseries”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishmini-Smaller version of an item than usual; With the...
2EnglishminiatureGreatly diminished size or form; reduced scale; A...
3Italianminiaturaminiature; thumbnail
4Italianminiareto illuminate; to miniate
5Latinminiare—
6Latinminiumnative cinnabar; red lead, minium
7Latin-umnominative neuter singular of -us; accusative...
8Proto-Italic*-om—
9Proto-Indo-European*-oHom—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *-oHom →