I. ˈmint noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English mynt, from Old English mynet; akin to Old High German munizza coin; both from a prehistoric West Germanic word borrowed from Latin moneta mint, coin, money, from Moneta, epithet of Juno, ancient Italian goddess, wife of Jupiter; from the fact that the Romans coined money in the temple of Juno Moneta
1. obsolete : coin , money
2.
a. : a place (as a factory) where coins are made
coinage by private mints was born of necessity — Abraham Kosoff
the abbot … owned the one-man mint of that town — John Craig
b. usually capitalized : a government agency charged with making coins
the Royal Mint
Director of the United States Mint
3. : a place where anything is manufactured or fabricated : a source of invention
a man … that hath a mint of phrases in his brain — Shakespeare
4. : a vast sum (as of money) : a great amount or supply
some of the scarce items cost a mint — T.H.Fielding
you save a mint of money — advt
he had a mint of faith in himself — Rosalind Duforet
5.
[ mint (III) ]
: a coin or stamp in mint condition
20th century mints — advt
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to make (as coins or money) out of metal usually by a special manufacturing process : create in or by the authority of a mint : coin 1
a patent … to mint copper coinage for Ireland — J.H.Plumb
trade dollars … continued to be minted in proof — E.G.Bradfield
Anglo-Saxon coins were minted by individuals commissioned by the rulers — C.V.Kappen
2. : to convert (a metal) into coins
this copper was to be minted into … 9d. pieces — R.T.Hoober
the silver which was mined there was minted into coins — J.W.M.Decker
3. : to manufacture or create as if in a mint : coin 3
a phrase newly minted here — R.H.Rovere
the language is freshly minted — Alfred Kreymborg
new ideas … are minted in a few months — Times Literary Supplement
intransitive verb
: to conduct the operations of a mint : make coins
the Romans … learned to mint from the Greeks — John Craig
III. adjective
1. : of or relating to a mint
2. : in the original condition as if fresh from a mint : absolutely unmarred and unused
a collection of mint and used stamps — National Stamp News
the coins are … all in mint condition — Numismatist
his copy … still mint in dust jacket, precisely as it came from the publisher — Charles Rosner
IV. noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English minte, from Old English; akin to Old High German minza mint; both from a prehistoric West Germanic word borrowed from Latin mentha, menta mint, of non-Indo-European origin; akin to the source of Greek minthē mint
1. : any of various aromatic plants constituting the family Labiatae ; especially : a member of the genus Mentha — see peppermint , spearmint
2. : a soft or hard confection flavored with peppermint or spearmint and often served after dinner
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
: to flavor or season with mint
VI. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English minten, from Old English myntan; akin to Old English gemynd mind, memory — more at mind
transitive verb
1. chiefly Scotland : intend , purpose
mints to go tomorrow
2. chiefly Scotland : attempt , venture , dare
cleave to the brisket the first man that mints another stroke — Sir Walter Scott
3. chiefly Scotland : insinuate , suggest
intransitive verb
1. chiefly Scotland : to make a feint : feign
don't just mint at it; do it
2. chiefly Scotland : aspire — used with at
they that mint at a gown of gold — Sir Walter Scott
3. chiefly Scotland : hint
cannot understand what we mint at, unless we speak it out — Sir Walter Scott
VII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from minten to intend
now chiefly Scotland : attempt , effort
make a mint at it