major

major
{{11}}major (adj.) c.1300, from L. maior (earlier *magjos), irregular comparative of magnus "large, great" (see MAGNATE (Cf. magnate)). Used in music (of modes, scales, or chords) since 1690s, on notion of an interval a half-tone greater than the minor.
{{12}}major (n.) military rank, 1640s, from Fr. major, short for sergent-major, originally a higher rank than at present, from M.L. major "chief officer, magnate, superior person," from L. maior "an elder, adult," noun use of the adjective (see MAJOR (Cf. major) (adj.)). The musical sense attested by 1797.
{{12}}major (v.) "focus (one's) studies," 1910, Amer.Eng., from MAJOR (Cf. major) (n.) in sense of "subject of specialization" (1890). Related: Majored; majoring. Earlier as a verb, in Scottish, "to prance about, or walk backwards and forwards with a military air and step" [Jamieson, 1825].

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Major — Major …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • major — [ maʒɔr ] adj. et n. • XVIe; en provenç., XIIIe; lat. major, compar. de magnus « grand » I ♦ Adj. Milit. Supérieur par le rang (dans quelques comp.).⇒ état major, tambour major. Médecin major. Sergent major. II ♦ N. 1 …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Major — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Major (homonymie). Major est un grade militaire, qui se situe différemment dans la hiérarchie militaire suivant les pays. Il désigne le premier grade d officier supérieur ou, dans l armée française, un grade… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Major — ist ein militärischer Dienstgrad verschiedener Länder. Er gehört zur Dienstgradgruppe der Stabsoffiziere. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1 Historisches 2 Deutschland 3 Österreich 4 Schweiz …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • major — MAJÓR, Ă, majori, e, adj. 1. (Despre oameni) Care a împlinit vârsta legală pentru a putea beneficia prin lege de drepturi civile şi politice depline. 2. Foarte important, principal. ♦ (log.: în sintagmele) Termen major = predicatul concluziei… …   Dicționar Român

  • Major — Ma jor, [L. major, compar. of magnus great: cf. F. majeur. Cf. {Master}, {Mayor}, {Magnitude}, {More}, a.] 1. Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • major — Major. s. m. Officier de guerre dans un corps, qui porte les ordres des Commandants à tous les autres Officiers. Le Major d un Regiment. le Major de, la place. Major des Gardes du Corps, Est un Officier qui fait servir les Gardes auprés du Roy, & …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • major — [mā′jər] adj. [ME maiour < L major, compar. of magnus, great: see MAGNI ] 1. a) greater in size, amount, number, or extent b) greater in importance or rank 2. of full legal age 3. constituting the majority: said of a part, etc …   English World dictionary

  • major — is commonly used, especially in journalism, to mean ‘important, significant’, without any notion of comparison inherent in the word s origins. A political leader invariably gives a major speech, a reference book is published in a major new… …   Modern English usage

  • Major — Ma jor, n. [F. major. See {Major}, a.] 1. (Mil.) An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer. [1913 Webster] 2. (Law) A person of full age. [1913 Webster] 3. (Logic) That premise which… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • major in — ˈmajor in [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they major in he/she/it majors in present participle majoring in past tense majored in past p …   Useful english dictionary

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