Unnumbered source etymology
Original entry ↗Having little or no importance. · Of persons or their behaviour: marked by or reflective of undesirably limited interests, sympathies, or views; begrudging, selfish, small-minded; also, preoccupied with subjects having little or no importance and not mindful of broader concerns. · Inclined to cause frustration or annoyance to others out of spite over minor grievances; extremely vindictive. · Of or relating to the lowest grade or level of school; junior, primary.
An outbuilding used as a lavatory; an outhouse, a privy. · A class or school for young schoolboys. · A little schoolboy, either in grade or size.
The adjective is derived from Middle English peti, pety (“little, small; minor”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman petit, Middle French petit, and Old French peti, petit, pitet (“young; little, small; inferior; insignificant”) (modern French petit), ultimately of imitative origin. It is no longer thought that the word is derived from Celtic. Doublet of petit and petite. The noun is derived from the adjective.
Relationships mentioned by the source
These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.
This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.
Inspect preserved source fields
Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.
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"Having little or no importance.",
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"Inclined to cause frustration or annoyance to others out of spite over minor grievances; extremely vindictive.",
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