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Are minors called minors because minors were miners?
In the days of old, young children were forced to work in mines, so my question is as follows. Does the word Minor originate from the fact that minors were forced to be miners?
I have no complaints with the current answers, but to add a point, could it be that mines (which are usually underground) originate from the same root, meaning under. This would make it possible for the cause and effect to happen
3 Answers
- jehenLv 77 years agoFavorite Answer
No - the words have completely different origins. Miner is a noun for one who mines. Minor is an adjective meaning small or lesser. The adjective was co-opted as a noun to describe a person (child) as someone that does not have the full legal rights or responsibilities of an adult.
- Irv SLv 77 years ago
Minor means 'small" or smaller, as in Asia Minor
Miner is the occupation.
Similar custom to calling the elder with the same name 'senior' and the younger 'junior'.
- JohnLv 77 years ago
No. Miner originates from the word "Mine" as in a place to collect ore. To mine is to collect ore, and if you mine then you are a miner.
Minor comes from "minimum" as in, the smallest. It is also used in music, such as A minor scale. If you are a minor you are lesser, so it makes sense that children are considered minors.
