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Minion is a term used for favourites. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that French Wiktionary be merged into this article or section. ...

History

The word Minion is or "alex" recorded in English since 1501, "a favourite; a darling; a low dependant; one who pleases rather than benefits" [Johnson], from M.Fr. mignon means a favourite, pet or spoiled person. The word is adapted from the Middle French mignon "a favourite, darling", also "dainty, pleasing, favorite" as an adjective, from Old French mignot, itself possibly from Italian mignone. Anyway the ultimate origin is doubtful- connections with the Old High German minna 'love' and with a Celtic root min- 'small' have been suggested. It was used without disparaging overtones in the 16th-17th centuries.

In modern English the word minion almost always refers to a person of a lower order, especially in relation to work. The “office minion” referring to a subordinate office worker. Minion has been applied in a derogatory sense to the creatures of a royal court, and thus has been used of the favourites of the English kings Edward II of England and James I of England, and of Henry III of France. Edward II, (25 April 1284 – 21 September? 1327), of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until deposed in January, 1327. ... James VI and I (James Stuart) (June 19, 1566 – March 27, 1625) was King of Scots, King of England, and King of Ireland. ... Henry III (French: Henri III; September 19, 1551 – August 2, 1589), born Alexandre-Édouard, was a member of the Valois Dynasty, King of France from May 30, 1574 until his death. ...

In the sense pretty, delicate, dainty, the French form mignon (or for a female mignonne) is often used in English.

Les Mignons

In a general sense the French word mignon means favourite, but the people of Paris used it in a special sense to designate the favourites of Henry III of France, frivolous and fashionable young men, to whom public malignity attributed dissolute morals. According to the contemporary chronicler Pierre de l'Estoile, they made themselves exceedingly odious, as much by their foolish and haughty demeanour, as by their effeminate and immodest dress, but above all by the immense gifts the king made to them. The Guises appear to have stirred up the ill will of the Parisians against them: from 1576 the mignons were attacked by popular opinion, and historians accredited without proof the scandalous stories of the time. The best known of the mignons were the dukes of Joyeuse and of Epernon. Henry III (French: Henri III; September 19, 1551 – August 2, 1589), born Alexandre-Édouard, was a member of the Valois Dynasty, King of France from May 30, 1574 until his death. ... Pierre de LEstoile (Paris, 1546 - 8 October 1611) was a French chronicler. ...

Sources

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
• EtymologyOnLine