Etymology From Middle English mynt, münet (“money, coin”), from Old English mynet (“coin”), from late Proto-West Germanic *munit, from Latin monēta (“place for making coins, coined money”), from the temple of Juno Moneta (named for Monēta mother of the Muses), where coins were made. Doublet of money and manat. The verb is from the noun; Old English mynetian (“to mint”) is a parallel formation.
1
A building or institution where money (originally, only coins) is produced under government licence.
2
Informal A vast sum of money; (by extension) a large amount of something.
That house is worth a mint.
It must have cost a mint to produce!
1 more example
to make a mint
3
Figuratively Any place regarded as a source of unlimited supply; the supply itself.
A mint of phrases in his brain.c. 1595–1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Loues Labour’s Lost”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
Etymology From Middle English mynt, münet (“money, coin”), from Old English mynet (“coin”), from late Proto-West Germanic *munit, from Latin monēta (“place for making coins, coined money”), from the temple of Juno Moneta (named for Monēta mother of the Muses), where coins were made. Doublet of money and manat. The verb is from the noun; Old English mynetian (“to mint”) is a parallel formation.
1
To reproduce (coins), usually en masse, under licence.
For some time past the legal currency in the various Provinces has been insufficient for use. Formerly the two Provinces of Fuchien and Kuangtung minted some large, round copper coins of excellent workmanship that were said, by the people after they were put into circulation, to be convenient.1914, Wen Pin Wei, chapter IV, in The Currency Problem in China, Columbia University Press, →OCLC, page 111:
The Central Bank discontinued minting kopeks gradually. In 2012, the regulatory body stopped minting one-kopek and five-kopek coins. In 2018, the Central Bank stopped minting kopeks completely and now mints only ruble coins.2019 May 14, “Russia stops minting kopeks”, in Invest Foresight:
2
To invent; to forge; to fabricate; to fashion.
Titles […] as may appeare to be easily minteda. 1627 (date written), Francis [Bacon], “Considerations Touching a Warre with Spaine. […]”, in William Rawley, editor, Certaine Miscellany Works of the Right Honourable Francis Lo. Verulam, Viscount S. Alban. […], London: […] I. Hauiland for Humphrey Robinson, […], published 1629, →OCLC, page 24:
China’s newly minted national parks don’t just safeguard famous keystone species such as Siberian tigers, giant pandas and Hainan gibbons. They are also designed to preserve the shrinking ecosystems that support such iconic wildlife, ranging from sweltering (tropical jungles in the southern province of Hainan to the chilly maple forests of northern Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces bordering Siberia.2022 November 17, Paul Salopek, “A ‘Slow Storytelling’ Writing and Photography Workshop Boosts Conservation in China”, in National Geographic:
Beeple’s collaged JPG was made, or “minted,” in February as a “nonfungible token,” or NFT.2021 March 11, Scott Reyburn, “JPG File Sells for $69 Million, as ‘NFT Mania’ Gathers Pace”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
Etymology From Middle English mynt, münet (“money, coin”), from Old English mynet (“coin”), from late Proto-West Germanic *munit, from Latin monēta (“place for making coins, coined money”), from the temple of Juno Moneta (named for Monēta mother of the Muses), where coins were made. Doublet of money and manat. The verb is from the noun; Old English mynetian (“to mint”) is a parallel formation.
1
Abbreviation, Ellipsis Ellipsis of mint condition: like new.
Most of my collection is near mint, but these ones here are mint.
Trading card sales have taken off, too. The price of mint condition cards on StockX jumped to an average $775 in January from $280 a year ago.2021 March 13, Erin Griffith, “From Crypto Art to Trading Cards, Investment Manias Abound”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
2
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Numismatics In near-perfect condition; uncirculated.
3
Hobbies, Lifestyle, Philately Unused with original gum; as issued originally.
And my God, what a house it was – it was mint! In all my life I had never set foot in such a beautiful place.2014, Holly Hagan, Not Quite a Geordie:
“Everyone was having a beano, everyone was partying, the music was going, it was mint – as soon as England won we booked it.”2024 July 14, Rachel Hall, quoting Ashley Cullen, “‘I’ve never seen owt like it’: England fans in Benidorm in high spirits before Euro final”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Etymology From Middle English mynte, from Old English minte (“mint plant”), from Proto-West Germanic *mintā (“mint”), from Latin menta, probably from a lost Mediterranean language either through Ancient Greek μίνθη (mínthē), μίνθα (míntha) or directly. Akin to Old Norse minta (“mint”). Doublet of mentha.
1
Any plant in the genus Mentha in the family Lamiaceae, typically aromatic with square stems.
2
The flavoring of the plant, either a sweet, a jelly or sauce.
3
A green color, like that of mint.
4
A mint-flavored candy, often eaten to sweeten the smell of the breath.
Etymology From Middle English mynte, from Old English minte (“mint plant”), from Proto-West Germanic *mintā (“mint”), from Latin menta, probably from a lost Mediterranean language either through Ancient Greek μίνθη (mínthē), μίνθα (míntha) or directly. Akin to Old Norse minta (“mint”). Doublet of mentha.
Etymology From Middle English minten, from Old English myntan (“to mean, intend, purpose, determine, resolve”), from Proto-West Germanic *muntijan (“to think, consider”), from Proto-Indo-European *men-, *mnā- (“to think”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian mintsje, muntsje (“to aim, target”), Dutch munten (“to aim at, target”), German Low German münten (“to aim at”), German münzen (“to aim at”), Dutch monter (“cheerful, gladsome, spry”), Gothic 𐌼𐌿𐌽𐍃 (muns, “thought, opinion”), Old English munan (“to be mindful of, consider, intend”). More at mind.
Etymology From Middle English minten, from Old English myntan (“to mean, intend, purpose, determine, resolve”), from Proto-West Germanic *muntijan (“to think, consider”), from Proto-Indo-European *men-, *mnā- (“to think”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian mintsje, muntsje (“to aim, target”), Dutch munten (“to aim at, target”), German Low German münten (“to aim at”), German münzen (“to aim at”), Dutch monter (“cheerful, gladsome, spry”), Gothic 𐌼𐌿𐌽𐍃 (muns, “thought, opinion”), Old English munan (“to be mindful of, consider, intend”). More at mind.