Word histories: maximum, minimum and Latin | Tangente

Maximum and minibus: Doctor Schweitzer is the absolute max -------------------------------------------------

In Latin, these terms are irregular superlatives used in the neuter. It is easy to see that "maximum" comes from magnus and means "the greatest," while "minimum" comes from minus and means "the smallest." The Latin adjective externus (or exter) describes what is external or outside; extremum is its superlative, meaning "the furthest outside." As for optimum, it is the wholly irregular superlative of bonus. The same irregularity occurs in French, where the superlative of "bon" is "meilleur," derived from the comparative of bonus, namely melior.

Introduced into French through scientific usage, "maximum" and "minimum" have become familiar words and are often shortened, as in Jacques Dutronc's song Mini mini mini, which also features "maxi."

Maximum: from mathematics to everyday French ---------------------------------------------

The Latin word maximum entered French at the very beginning of the 18^th century as a mathematical term. It was not until the middle of that century that it came to denote the greatest value attained by a function. The emergence of differential calculus was undoubtedly the reason, as it made it possible to solve numerous problems involving the search for extrema.