*minus*

a. [ L. See Minor, and cf. Mis- pref. from the French. ] (Math.) Less; requiring to be subtracted; negative; as, a minus quantity. [ 1913 Webster ]

Minus sign (Math.), the sign [ - ] denoting minus, or less, prefixed to negative quantities, or quantities to be subtracted. See Negative sign, under Negative. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. minuses A factor counted as a disadvantage; a loss or potential loss in a situation or plan; as, he added up all the pluses and minuses and decided not to do it; as, the lack of money is a big minus in an election campaign. [ PJC ]

adj. of or relating to minuscule script, a small cursive script developed from uncial, and used in the 7th to 9th centuries.
Syn. -- minuscule. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. minusculus rather small, fr. minus less: cf. F. minuscule. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Any very small, minute object. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A small Roman letter which is neither capital nor uncial; a manuscript written in such letters. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. a. Of or relating to a minuscule{ 2 } or of a script written in minuscules{ 2 }; of the size and style of minuscules{ 2 }; written in minuscules{ 2 }; minuscular. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

These minuscule letters are cursive forms of the earlier uncials. I. Taylor (The Alphabet). [ 1913 Webster ]