An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

Lesser or smaller in amount, extent, or size.

Etymology (EN): From L. minor “lesser, smaller, junior,” from PIE base *mei- “small” (cf. L. minuere “make small;” Gk. meion “less,” minuthein “to lessen;” Skt. miyate “diminishes, declines;” O.E. minsian “to diminish”).

Etymology (PE): Kehin comparative and superlative of
keh “small, little, slender” (related to kâstan, kâhidan “to decrease, lessen, diminish,” kam “little, few; deficient, wanting; scarce,” (Mid.Pers. kam “little, small, few,” O.Pers./Av. kamna- “small, few;” from Mid.Pers. kâhitan, kâstan, kâhênitan “to decrease, diminish, lessen;” Av. kasu- “small, little;” Proto-Iranian *kas- “to be small, diminish, lessen”) + -é nuance suffix.