Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “minsian” come from?

minsian (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic minnisōną, from Proto-Germanic minniz, from Proto-Indo-European mēy- — soft, tender, dear.

minsian (Old English): to diminish, lessen, become small

Definitions

  1. to diminish, lessen, become small

Ancestry of “minsian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicminnisōnąto make less, make smaller
2Proto-Germanicminnizless, to a smaller degree
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmēy-soft, tender, dear

Words derived from “minsian”

  • mince
  • mincer
  • mincy
  • minceth
  • minceable
  • 免治
  • mincen
  • 민서
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mēy- →