Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MIN'UM, n. [from W. main, Fr. menu, small. See Mince.]

1. A small kind of printing types; now written minion.
2. A note of slow time containing two crotchets; now written minim, which see.

MI'NUS, prep. [L.]

Less; a term in algebra, denoting subtraction. It as sometimes used for decrease or diminution.

MI-NUTE, a. [L. minutus; Fr. menu, W. main, small. See Mince.]

1. Very small, little or slender; of very small bulk or size. Small in consequcnce; as, a minute grain of sand; a minute filament. The blood circulates through very minute vessels. Minute divisions of a subject often perplex the understanding. Minute details are tedious.
2. Attending to small things; critical; as, minute observation.

MIN-UTE, n. [min'it; L. minutum, that is, a small portion.]

1. A small portion of time or duration, being the sixtieth part of an hour. Since you are not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. – Franklin.
2. In geometry, the sixtieth part of a degree of a circle.
3. In architecture, the sixtieth, but sometimes the thirtieth part of a module. – Encyc.
4. A space of time indefinitely small. I will be with you in a minute, or in a few minutes, that is, in a short time.
5. A short sketch of any agreement or other subject, taken in writing; a note to preserve the memory of any thing; as to take minutes of a contract; to take minutes of a conversation or debate.

MIN'UTE, v.t. [min'it.]

To set down a short sketch or note of any agreement or other subject in writing. Spectator.

MIN'UTE-BOOK, n.

A book of short hints.

MIN'UTE-GLASS, n.

A glass, the sand of which measures a minute.

MIN'UTE-GUNS, n.

Guns discharged every minute.

MIN'UTE-HAND, n.

The hand that points to the minute on a clock or watch.

MIN'UTE-LY, a. [min'itly.]

Happening every minute. – Hammond.

MI-NUTE'LY, adv.¹ [from minute.]

To a small point of time, space or matter; exactly; nicely; as, to measure the length of any thing minutely; to ascertain time minutely to relate a story minutely.

MIN'UTE-LY, adv.² [from minute.]

Every minute; with very little time intervening. As if it were minutely proclaimed in thunder from heaven. Hammond.

MIN'UTE-MEN, n.

Men ready at a minute's notice; a term used in the American revolution.

MI-NUTE-NESS, n.

1. Extreme smallness, fineness, or slenderness; as, the minuteness of the particles of air or of fluid; the minuteness of the filaments of cotton; the minuteness of details in narration.
2. Attention to small things; critical exactness; as, the minuteness of observation or distinction.

MIN'UTE-WATCH, n.

A watch that distinguishes minutes of time, or on which minutes are marked. Boyle.

MI-NU'TIAE, n. [MI-NU'TIÆ; L.]

The smaller particulars.

MINX, n. [Qu. minnoc.]

1. A pert, wanton girl. Shak.
2. A she puppy.
3. A name applied in America to the Martes Vison, and Putorius Lutreola, two weasel-like quadrupeds, or digitigrade carnivorous mammals.

MIN-Y, a. [from mine.]

1. Abounding with mines.
2. Subterraneous. Thomson.

MI'O-CENE, a. [Gr. μειων, less.]

Less recent. As a noun, in geology, middle tertiary strata.

MIRABILE-DICTU, a. [Μirabile dictu; L.]

Wonderful to tell, or be told.

MI'RA-BLE, a.

Wonderful to tell, or be told.

MIR'A-CLE, a.

Wonderful. [Not in use.] Shak.

MIR'A-CLE, n. [Fr. from L. miraculum, from miror, to wonder; Arm. miret, to hold. See Marvel.]

1. Literally, a wonder or wonderful thing; but appropriately,
2. In theology, an event or effect contrary to the established constitution and course of things, or a deviation from the known laws of nature; a supernatural event. Miracles can be wrought only by almighty power, as when Christ healed lepers, saying, “I will, be thou clean;” or calmed the tempest, “Peace, be still.” They considered not the miracle of the loaves. Mark vi. A man approved by God by miracles and signs. Acts ii.
3. Anciently, a spectacle or dramatic representation exhibiting the lives of the saints. Chaucer.

MIR'A-CLE, v.t.

To make wonderful. [Not used.] Shak.

MIR'A-CLE-MON-GER, n.

An impostor who pretends work miracles. Hallywell.