mignon

mignon · adjective, noun¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*men-“to think”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*minjō“affectionate thought, care”
3. Frankish · derived from*minnju“love, friendship, affection, memory”
4. Old French · derived frommignon“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”
5. Middle French · derived frommignon“lover, darling, favourite”
6. French · borrowed frommignon
7. English todaymignon

From French mignon, from Middle French mignon (“lover, darling, favourite”), from Old French mignon (“dainty, pleasing, gentle, kind”), from Frankish *minnju (“love, friendship, affection, memory”), from Proto-Germanic *minjō (“affectionate thought, care”), from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to think”). Cognate with Old High German minna (“love, care, affection, desire, memory”), Old Saxon minnia (“love”). More at mind. Compare Dutch minnen (“to love”). Doublet of minion.

Mignon · proper noun, proper noun²

1. French · borrowed fromMignon
2. English todayMignon

Borrowed from French Mignon. * (surname): Occasionally of Walloon origin.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 18th–19th c. A cute or pretty person; a dandy; a pretty child.
• from 20th c. One of the court favourites of Henry III of France.