minutia (2009-10-19)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: [mi-'nu-shee-ê or mi-'nu-shê]

Definition: A microscopic, often trivial item; the smallest detail.

Usage: Today's word refers to the atomic particles of anything, "Wyatt Matters never learned that it is the minutiae of one's life that gives it form and provides the greatest satisfaction." It often conflates the two senses of 'microscopic' and 'utterly unimportant:' "If you're going to pound your way into the world of big-time finance you can't lose sleep over the minutiae."

Suggested Usage: If you thought all English words form their plural with –s, you might be surprised to learn that today's word forms its plural with –e: "minutiae," pronounced [mi-'nu-shee-ee] or just [mi-'nu-shee]. Most British speakers prefer palatalizing the second syllable: [mi-'nyu-shee-ê].

Etymology: Today's word comes from Latin minutia "smallness" the noun from minutus "small." The same root reached French as menu "fine, minute, small," as in menue monnaie "small change." As a noun, however, the French word refers details--minutiae, as in menu de repas "details of a meal," most recently reduced to just plain "menu." The same root is also in Latin minor "lesser, smaller" and in its neuter form, "minus." In Russian it became men'she "less, fewer," which underlies Menshevik "minorityist," the party that opposed the Bolshevik (majorityist), Lenin, during the Russian Revolution of 1917.