Middle English Dictionary Entry
minū̆t(e n.(1)
Entry Info
| Forms | minū̆t(e n.(1) Also minet. |
| Etymology | ML minūtum, minūta. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) The sixtieth part of an hour, a minute; also, a moment, an instant; ~ while, the space of a minute; a moment; (b) astron. the sixtieth part of a degree; (c) arith. one of sixty parts into which a unit is divided.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.241 : For the lachesse Of half a Minut of an houre..He loste all that he hadde do.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.642 : Noght half the Minut of an houre Ne mihte I lete out of my mende Bot if I thoghte upon that hende.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)6.2257 : Nectanabus..every houre apointeth so That no mynut therof was lore.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)11.372 : He miȝte amende in a Minute while [C: mynt-while] al þat mys standeth.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)17.228 : Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne Melteth in a mynut while [C: mynt-while] to myst and to watre.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.2817 : Þe cok..of þe tyme a mynute wil not passe To warnen hem..Of þe tydes and sesoun of þe nyȝt.
- (1430) Astr.Cal.in Palaeog.Soc.ser.2.172b : Þe laste chonge before was þe 9 day before 18 Mynutes before 9 of þe cloke.
- (1435) Misyn FL (Corp-O 236)83/14 : He..all-way is bisy þat mynd of his swetyst lemman out of his þoght be a mynwt [L ad momentum] scryth.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.7.12,13 : Every degre of the bordure conteneth 4 minutes, this is to seien, mynutes of an houre.
- a1475 *Hrl.Diseases Hawk A (Hrl 2340)34a : Latt hyr stand þer with þe space of ij mynetys; than wach owte þat with womannys mylke.
- ?a1475 PParv.(Win)289 : Mynute of an howre: Minuta.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)81a : A mynet of an howre: minuta.
- a1550(c1477) Norton OAlch.(Sln 1873)3006 : Ignis candens..most euer be coequall In euery mynute and yet perpetuall.
b
- (c1392) ?Westwyk EPlanets (Peterh 75)24/4 : In the same manere shal it be deuyded in mynutis, in degres, in nombres.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)108b/a : Eueryche signe [of the zodiac] is departid in þritty grees, and eueryche gree in sexti minutis [L minuta].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)113b/b : Þe cercle of þe sonne is distigwid in xij spaces þat ben I-clepid signes, and eueryche of þilke signes conteyneþ þritty grees, & euery gree sixty mynutis, & euery mynut sexty secoundes.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)371 : The kyng..made..Massageres ryde..For dyvynoures..To Co[m]e..To fynde..The Chyldes fa[t]e..The Root ytake at the ascendent, Trewly sought out be mynut and degre The silf houre of his natyvyte.
- ?a1425(c1400) Mandev.(1) (Tit C.16)120/21-2 : Toward the high lybye it is xviij degrees of heghte & certeyn mynutes, of the whiche lx mynutes maken a degree.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)1.8.12 : These degres of signes ben everich of hem considred of 60 mynutes, and every mynute of 60 secundes.
- a1450(1391) Chaucer Astr.(Benson-Robinson)2.3.21 : The altitude of my sonne..was 25 degrees and 30 of minutes of height.
c
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)38/25-6 : Write that vnyte without in the table, other resolue it in 60 mynvtes, and sette aside half of tho minutes so.
2.
A small coin; a farthing or half a farthing.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 12.42 : O pore widowe..sente tweye mynutis [L minuta], that is, a ferthing.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)5.68 : Crist Iesus received with good chere Þe twey Mynutes ȝoue of herte entere By þe wydowe.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)340 : Mynute [vr. myte]: Minutum.
3.
A summary or draft of a document or letter.
Associated quotations
- (1443) Proc.Privy C.5.276 : Stourton was send to Eltham to þe King wt a minute..of lettres patentes.
- (1462) Case King Council in Seld.Soc.35115 : Commaundyng..to make proclamacion as it is remembred in this minute within writen, signed with the Kynges owen hande.
- c1475-a1600(a1473) Fortescue Declaration (Clermont)524 : I wollde fayne in all thoo wrytinges declare the effectes of thayme..yf I myght have the copyes and doubles of thayme, which I have not, nor have seen any minute of them.
- a1500(1444) Let.Curteys in RS 96.3 (Add 7096)267 : Þe saide abbot..shal for þe matiers and causes above writen, and for þe matiers and causes contiegned in a minute of a lettre delivered to him, [etc.].