Emily Dickinson Lexicon

minor, adj. [L. comp. of minus.] (webplay: between, bulk, less, lower, opposed, single, smaller).

1. Lesser; smaller in size.
2. Insignificant; unimportant; harmless.
3. Subordinate; secondary; lesser in quantity or quality; not principal.
4. [Fig.] in a musical key that has intervals smaller or lower by one semitone, creating a mournful or pathetic sound; metaphorically, pathetic or poignant.
5. [Fig.] Franciscan; having to do with the Minorites or minor friars of the monastic order of St. Francis in the Catholic Church; metaphorically, close to nature.

minor, n. [L.] (webplay: bird).

Chant; song; strain; hymn tune; religious melody; piece of sacred music in a minor key; [metaphor] ave; greeting; hello; (see Luke 1:28) [fig.] chirp; peep; song of a Minorca, a beautiful bird of the East Indies.

mint (-s), n. [OE mynet, money, stamped coin.] (webplay: word).

1. Something valuable; [fig.] leaves; petals.
2. Attempts; intentions.

mint (-ed), v. [see mint, n.] (webplay: coin, mine).

1. Forge; fabricate; make money.
2. Make official by stamping metal.

minuet (-s), n. [Fr. meneut, from menu, small.]

Slow, graceful dance in triple measure for two dancers; music for such a type of dance.

minute (-r, -st), adj. [Fr. menu, small < L.] (webplay: air, attention, circle, fineness, heaven, hour, men, measure, small, thunder, time).

1. Small in size; not spacious or large.
2. Less important; of little consequence; weak; unworthy.
3. [Fig.] low; close to the earth.

minute (-s), n. [L. minitum, a small portion.] (webplay: hour, small, space, time).

1. Sixty seconds; one sixtieth of an hour.
2. [Fig.] short space of time.

minutiae, n. [L. minutia, smallness.] (webplay: smaller).

Small things; trivial objects.

miracle (-s), n. [L. miraculum, wonder.] (webplay: conferred, event, God, known, lives, still, wonderful).

1. Incident uncontrolled by human hands; deviation of known laws of nature; divine occurrence.
2. [Fig.] life; resurrection; eternity; immortality; the Creation; Jesus Christ.

miraculous, adj. [Fr. < L.]

Performed supernaturally; magical; wonderful.