Word of the Day

: October 2, 2013

minion

noun MIN-yun

What It Means

1 : a servile dependent, follower, or underling

2 : one highly favored : idol

3 : a subordinate or petty official

minion in Context

The senior partner joked that she'd send her faithful minions out for coffee.

"There's Ruckus (Michael Mayes), whose father has recently appointed him store manager and who is happily lording his new power over his minions.…" - From a theater review by Marty Rosen in the Louisville Eccentric Observer (Kentucky), August 21, 2013

Did You Know?

"Minion" comes to us from Middle French and has a somewhat surprising cousin in English: "[filet mignon](/dictionary/filet mignon)." The two words are connected by way of Middle French "mignon," meaning "darling." "Minion" entered English around 1500 directly from Middle French, whereas "filet mignon" arrived significantly later by way of a Modern French phrase meaning "dainty fillet." The earliest uses of "minion" referred to someone who was a particular favorite, or darling, of a sovereign or other important personage. Over time, however, the word evolved a more derogatory sense referring to a person who is servile and unimportant.