minus的词源

英文词源

minus (prep.): late 15c., "with subtraction of," from Latin minus "less," neuter of minor "smaller," from PIE *mi-nu-, suffixed form of root *mei- (2) "small" (cognates: Latin minuere "to diminish, reduce, lessen," Greek meion "less, smaller," Old English minsian "to diminish," Sanskrit miyate "diminishes, declines," Russian men'she "less").

Mathematical use in expressions of calculation did not exist in the word in classical Latin and is probably from North Sea medieval commercial usage of Latin plus and minus to indicate surplus or deficiency of weight or measure. Origin of the "minus sign" is disputed.
minus (n.): 1650s, from minus (prep.).

来自拉丁语minus,较小的，较少的，来自minor的中性格，词源同minute,minimum.后引申词义减号，负值。

该词的英语词源请访问趣词词源英文版：minus 词源，minus 含义。

借用于拉丁语parv(小的)的中性比较级minus。

词根词缀： -min-小 + -us名词词尾