different between minion vs flunkey

English

Etymology

1490, from Middle French mignon (“lover, royal favourite, darling”), from Old French mignon (“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”), from Frankish *minnju (“love, friendship, affection, memory”), from Proto-Germanic *minþij?, *mindij? (“affectionate thought, care”), from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?nj?n/
• Homophone: minyan
• Rhymes: -?nj?n
• Hyphenation: min?ion

Noun

minion (countable and uncountable, plural minions)

1. A loyal servant of another, usually a more powerful being.

   Synonyms: disciple, follower; see also Thesaurus:loyal follower

2. A sycophantic follower.
3. (obsolete) A loved one; one highly esteemed and favoured.
   • 1608, Josuah Sylvester, Du Bartas his divine weekes and workes

     God's disciple and his dearest minion
4. (obsolete) An ancient form of ordnance with a calibre of about three inches.
5. (uncountable, typography, printing) The size of type between nonpareil and brevier, standardized as 7-point.
6. Obsolete form of minimum.

   • Of philosophers and scholars priscae sapientiae dictatores, I have already spoken in general terms, those superintendents of wit and learning, men above men, those refined men, minions of the muses.

Derived terms

• (type size): minionette
• miniondom
• minionhood
• minioning
• minionish
• minionlike
• minionly
• minionship

Translations

Adjective

minion (comparative more minion, superlative most minion)

1. (obsolete) Favoured, beloved; "pet".

   • These favours, with the commodities that follow minion Courtiers, corrupt […] his libertie, and dazle his judgement.

Chuukese

Etymology

Borrowed from English million.

Numeral

minion

1. million

Welsh

Etymology

From min +? -ion.

Noun

minion

1. plural of min

Mutation

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fl??ki/
• Rhymes: -??ki

Alternative forms

• flunkie
• flunky

Noun

flunkey (plural flunkeys or flunkies)

1. (derogatory) An underling; a liveried servant or a footman; servant, retainer – a person working in the service of another (especially in the household).
   • 1975, Saul Bellow, Humboldt's Gift [Avon ed., 1976, p. 304]:

     Dignified flunkies in the circular reception hall of the Ritz took my bag and briefcase and I came through the revolving door looking for Renata.

2. One who is obsequious or cringing; a snob.
3. (US, finance, slang) One easily deceived in buying stocks; an inexperienced and unwary jobber.

Translations

Derived terms

• flunkeydom
• flunkeyish
• flunkeyism

See also

• lackey