Minor

Minor
/muy"neuhr/, n.
a male given name.

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law
also called  Infant,  

      person below the legal age of majority or adulthood. The age of majority varies in different countries, and even in different jurisdictions within a country. It also differs with the type of activity concerned, such as marrying, purchasing alcohol, or driving an automobile. Twenty-one years is a common division between minors and adults.

      The concept of minority rests on the assumption that children are incapable of self-management. A minor also has special protection against strangers and irresponsible parents. A minor in most countries can acquire property but cannot sell it; and his acquisitions are controlled by his parents, subject always to review by the courts for abuses.

      Similarly, minors—even if they misrepresent their age—cannot be bound to contracts (contract) they sign; these are said to be voidable but not void. Thus, if a minor contracts to buy a car, he can cancel the contract before the actual exchange of the car for the money. The contract is said to be voidable at his discretion.

      Minors are, however, liable for harm they cause others—e.g., injuries to another child. Formerly, minors who committed crimes (crime) were held liable as if they were adults. In the 20th century this practice changed. Although minors were still disciplined for crimes, the emphasis was increasingly placed on rehabilitation, not punishment (see juvenile court).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • minor — mi·nor 1 n: a person who has not yet reached the age of majority compare adult, juvenile, major minor 2 adj 1 a: being less important or serious …   Law dictionary

  • Minor — ist der Name folgender Personen: Edward S. Minor (1840–1924), US amerikanischer Politiker Ilka Minor (* 1975), österreichische Rallye Beifahrerin Inge Minor (* 1936), deutsche Eiskunstläuferin Jakob Minor (1855–1912), österreichischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • minor — MINÓR, Ă, minori, e. adj. 1. (Adesea substantivat) Care nu a împlinit încă vârsta la care îşi poate exercita toate drepturile. 2. Lipsit de importanţă, neînsemnat, secundar; p. ext. şters, slab. 3. (muz.; în sintagmele) Mod minor = mod a cărui… …   Dicționar Român

  • Minor — • That which is less, or inferior in comparison with another, the term being employed as well of things as of persons Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Minor     Minor      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • minor — [mī′nər] adj. [ME menour < L minor < IE * minu , small < base * mei , to lessen > Gr meiōn, less, ON minni, smaller] 1. a) lesser in size, amount, number, or extent b) lesser in importance or rank 2. under full legal age (usually… …   English World dictionary

  • minor — mi nor (m[imac] n[ e]r), a. [L., a comparative with no positive; akin to AS. min small, G. minder less, OHG. minniro, a., min, adv., Icel. minni, a., minnr, adv., Goth. minniza, a., mins, adv., Ir. & Gael. min small, tender, L. minuere to lessen …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • minor in — ˈminor in [transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they minor in he/she/it minors in present participle minoring in past tense minored in past p …   Useful english dictionary

  • Minor — Mi nor, n. 1. A person of either sex who has not attained the age at which full civil rights are accorded; an infant; in England and the United States, one under twenty one years of age. [1913 Webster] Note: In hereditary monarchies, the minority …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Minor — Nom porté en Bretagne (22, 29), également écrit Le Minor, Le Mineur (22). Il correspond au breton minor , équivalent du français mineur (d âge), qui a souvent désigné un pupille, l orphelin d un seul parent et, localement, un héritier unique ou… …   Noms de famille

  • Minor — Minor, AL U.S. Census Designated Place in Alabama Population (2000): 1116 Housing Units (2000): 471 Land area (2000): 0.694337 sq. miles (1.798324 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.694337 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Minor, AL — U.S. Census Designated Place in Alabama Population (2000): 1116 Housing Units (2000): 471 Land area (2000): 0.694337 sq. miles (1.798324 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.694337 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

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