miniscule

/ˌmɪnəˈskjul/

Miniscule is a variant of minuscule, meaning “very tiny.” Ants, grains of sand, and portion sizes at fancy restaurants might all be described as miniscule.

Mini- means small, as in the words minimal and miniskirt. That’s why it’s in the word miniscule too, right? Wrong. It’s there because enough people spelled the word incorrectly that dictionary editors have given in. The traditional spelling is minuscule, with a u instead of a second i; minuscule is derived from the Latin word minus meaning “less.” Sticklers are surely convinced that the newfangled spelling illustrates the miniscule amount of respect that English speakers have for their own language.

Definitions of miniscule

1. adjective

   very small
   synonyms: minuscule

   little, small

   limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
2. adjective

   lowercase
   synonyms: little, minuscule, small

   lowercase

   relating to small (not capitalized) letters that were kept in the lower half of a compositor's type case
3. adjective

   of or relating to a small cursive script developed from uncial; 7th to 9th centuries
   synonyms: minuscular, minuscule

   lowercase

   relating to small (not capitalized) letters that were kept in the lower half of a compositor's type case
4. noun

   the characters that were once kept in bottom half of a compositor's type case
   synonyms: lower-case letter, lowercase, minuscule, small letter

   type of:

   character, grapheme, graphic symbol

   a written symbol that is used to represent speech
5. noun

   a small cursive script developed from uncial between the 7th and 9th centuries and used in medieval manuscripts
   synonyms: minuscule

   type 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