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MINUSCULE
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A small cursive script developed from uncial between the 7th and 9th centuries and used in medieval manuscripts
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("minuscule" is a kind of...):
cursive; cursive script; longhand; running hand (rapid handwriting in which letters are set down in full and are cursively connected within words without lifting the writing implement from the paper)
Derivation:
minuscular (of or relating to a small cursive script developed from uncial; 7th to 9th centuries)
Sense 2
Meaning:
The characters that were once kept in bottom half of a compositor's type case
Synonyms:
lower-case letter; lowercase; minuscule; small letter
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("minuscule" is a kind of...):
character; graph; grapheme; graphic symbol (a written symbol that is used to represent speech)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Extremely small
Example:
a minuscule amount of rain fell
Synonyms:
miniscule; minuscule
Classified under:
Similar:
little; small (limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Lowercase
Example:
e.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters
Synonyms:
little; minuscule; small
Classified under:
Similar:
lowercase (relating to small (not capitalized) letters that were kept in the lower half of a compositor's type case)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Of or relating to a small cursive script developed from uncial; 7th to 9th centuries
Synonyms:
minuscular; minuscule
Classified under:
Adjectives
Also:
lowercase (relating to small (not capitalized) letters that were kept in the lower half of a compositor's type case)
Antonym:
majuscule (of or relating to a style of writing characterized by somewhat rounded capital letters; 4th to 8th centuries)
