major: [16] Latin mājor ‘larger’ was the comparative form of magnus ‘large’, from which English gets magnitude, magnum etc (in early Latin it was *māgjōs). English originally acquired it as an adjective. Its noun use, for an army officer, followed in the 17th century. This represented a borrowing from French major, which was short for sergeant-major (in those days, ‘sergeant major’ was a more elevated rank than it is today). The derivative majority [16] comes via French majorité from medieval Latin mājōritās. Mayor comes from Latin mājor, routed via Old French. => magnitude, magnum, mayor
major (adj.)
c. 1300, from Latin maior (earlier *magjos), irregular comparative of magnus "large, great" (see magnate). Used in music (of modes, scales, or chords) since 1690s, on notion of an interval a half-tone greater than the minor.
major (n.)
military rank, 1640s, from French major, short for sergent-major, originally a higher rank than at present, from Medieval Latin major "chief officer, magnate, superior person," from Latin maior "an elder, adult," noun use of the adjective (see major (adj.)). The musical sense attested by 1797.
major (v.)
"focus (one's) studies," 1910, American English, from major (n.) in sense of "subject of specialization" (1890). Related: Majored; majoring. Earlier as a verb, in Scottish, "to prance about, or walk backwards and forwards with a military air and step" [Jamieson, 1825].
双语例句
1. The seven major industrial countries will have their yearly meeting in London.
7个主要工业国家将在伦敦举行一年一度的会议。
来自柯林斯例句
2. He said the issue was not a major irritant.
他说那个问题不是什么大问题。
来自柯林斯例句
3. The rail strike is causing major disruptions at the country's ports.
铁路罢工使该国港口陷入了一片混乱。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The UN would play a major role in monitoring a ceasefire.
联合国在监督停火方面会发挥重要作用。
来自柯林斯例句
5. His pitching was a legend among major league hitters.
