Minuscule: meaning, definitions and examples

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minuscule

[ ˈmɪnɪˌskjuːl ]

^{Context #1}

written text

extremely small; tiny

Synonyms

minute, small, tiny

Examples of usage

The minuscule writing on the ancient manuscript was barely visible to the naked eye.
She found a minuscule bug crawling on her desk.

^{Context #2}

typography

a small cursive script developed in the 7th century as a simplified form of the uncial, used in medieval manuscripts

Synonyms

cursive script, lowercase, small letters

Examples of usage

The scribe meticulously copied the text in minuscule onto the parchment.
The book was written in minuscule, making it difficult to read for those unfamiliar with the script.

Translations

Translations of the word "minuscule" in other languages:

🇵🇹 minúsculo

🇮🇳 छोटा

🇩🇪 winzig

🇮🇩 kecil

🇺🇦 дрібний

🇵🇱 mały

🇯🇵 小さい (ちいさい)

🇫🇷 minuscule

🇪🇸 minúsculo

🇹🇷 küçük

🇰🇷 아주 작은

🇸🇦 صغير جدًا

🇨🇿 miniaturní

🇸🇰 maličký

🇨🇳 微小的 (wēixiǎo de)

🇸🇮 majhen

🇮🇸 smávaxin

🇰🇿 өте кішкентай

🇬🇪 პატარა

🇦🇿 çox kiçik

🇲🇽 minúsculo

Word origin

The word 'minuscule' originates from the Latin word 'minusculus', meaning rather small. In the context of typography, minuscule refers to a small cursive script developed in the 7th century. Over time, the term has also been used more broadly to describe anything extremely small or tiny. The evolution of minuscule as an adjective to describe size reflects the changing nature of written language and the development of script styles throughout history.