Minion
For
years now I’ve been laughingly referring to myself as a minion. Officially, I’m one
of two San Luis Obispo co-coordinators for the Central-Coastal Region of the
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. The tongue-tripping title has
a causal relationship to my preference for the moniker, minion.
In
my California baby-boomer upbringing, I understood that a minion was a devoted
helper – usually of some nefarious villain. Nefarious villains aside, I’ve
always had an affinity for the word. Imagine my surprise upon discovering that minion
has a myriad of deliciously disparate meanings.
The
OED devotes two thirds of a page to minion, which appeared first in
English about the year 1500. Though most etymologists believe it came from the
Old High German word minnja or minna, meaning love, others put its source in the
Celtic combining form, min- or small, which was borrowed from Latin. The OED’s definitions
(slightly abbreviated) for minion include:
a.
a beloved object, darling
or favorite
b.
a lover, lady-love, mistress or paramour
c.
a dearest friend or favorite child, servant or animal
d.
one who owes everything to his patron’s favor & is ready to purchase
its continuance by base compliances
e.
a form of address, meaning darling or dear one
f.
a hussy, jade, servile creature or slave
g.
a gallant, an exquisite
h.
an adjective meaning dainty, fine, elegant, pretty or neat
The last few OED meanings are really out there.
a.
a small kind of ordnance
b.
a type of peach
c.
a type of lettuce
d.
a typesetter’s term identifying a medium-size font
a.
an obsequious follower or sycophant
b.
a pert or saucy girl or woman
c.
loyal servant of a powerful being
Good
followers, I will keep my theories to myself in hopes that you will spout forth
your own. How did this one simple word end up being its own antonym in multiple
ways? And what’s up with the lettuce, anyway?
I've always loved the word minion. But I only thought it meant (d) the base compliances one. Little did I know I could have a Bacon, Minion and Tomato Sandwich. Or that minions could be dainty or gallant. (Although come to think of it "mignion" can be a term of endearment in French. I always learn something here, Mr. Monger!
ReplyDeleteHowdy Anne,
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking some local restaurant needs to embrace this idea of yours & start promoting the BMT.
That is amazing! I always thought of minion as a somewhat derogatory title. I just might start using it as endearing nickname for the grandsons. Um…maybe not. I would probably get arrested for child abuse. What a wonderful “little” word.
ReplyDeleteHey Christine,
ReplyDeleteMay you & your minions successfully avoid arrest!