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mind

/maɪnd/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)/mɑjnd/ (British, Southern, Standard)/mɑend/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
  • noun
  • verb
  • from Old English

The capability for rational thought.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “mind” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. countableuncountableThe capability for rational thought.

    Despite advancing age, his mind was still as sharp as ever.

  2. countableuncountableThe ability to be aware of things.

    There was no doubt in his mind that they would win.

  3. countableuncountableThe ability to remember things.

    My mind just went blank.

  4. countableuncountableThe ability to focus the thoughts.

    I can’t keep my mind on what I’m doing.

  5. countableuncountableSomebody that embodies certain mental qualities.

    He was one of history’s greatest minds.

  6. countableuncountableThinking characteristic of particular group.

    Who knows what really goes through the criminal mind?

  7. countableuncountableJudgment, opinion, or view.

    He changed his mind after hearing the speech.

  8. countableuncountableDesire, inclination, or intention.

    She had a mind to go to Paris.

  9. countableuncountableA healthy mental state.

    I, ______ being of sound mind and body, do hereby[…]

  10. countableuncountableThe non-material substance or set of processes in which consciousness, perception, affectivity, judgement, thinking, and will are based.

    The nature of the mind is a major topic in philosophy.

  11. countableuncountableContinual prayer on a dead person's behalf for a period after their death.

    a month's [or monthly] mind; a year's mind

  12. uncountableAttention, consideration or thought.

    They are the “tars” who give mind to the spreading sail, and their bold courage is the pabulum which will preserve our sea-girt isle in its vernal green to furthest posterity.1849, Eliza Cook, Eliza Cook’s Journal,p.119, volume 1:

Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

verb

  1. To bring or recall to mind; to remember; bear or keep in mind.

    Mind to-morrow's early meeting!1878, Robert Browning, La Saisiaz, line 70:

  2. regionalTo remember.

    The land where I shall mind you not / Is the land where all's forgot.1896, A. E. Housman, A Shropshire Lad, XXXVII, lines 25-26

  3. To turn one's mind to; to observe; to notice.

    Mind the new detour signs. If you don't mind, you'll end up running into bears in the forest.

  4. To regard with attention; to treat as of consequence.

    Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Romans 12:16:

  5. imperativeTo pay attention or heed to so as to obey; hence to obey; to make sure, to take care (that).

    Mind you don't knock that glass over.

  6. To pay attention to, in the sense of occupying one's mind with, to heed.

    You should mind your own business.

  7. To look after, to take care of, especially for a short period of time.

    Would you mind my bag for me?

  8. To be careful about.

    Bank Underground Station, London, is built on a curve, leaving a potentially dangerous gap between platform and carriage to trap the unwary. The loudspeaker voice instructs passengers to "Mind the gap": the boundary between train and platform.2005, Gillie Bolton, Reflective Practice: Writing And Professional Development, →ISBN, page xv:

  9. To purpose, intend, plan.

    I mind to tell him plainly what I think.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, p

  10. IrelandUKTake note; used to point out an exception or caveat.

    I'm not very healthy. I do eat fruit sometimes, mind.

  11. To dislike, to object to; to be bothered by.

    I wouldn't mind an ice cream right now.

Older & obsolete senses (1)
  1. dialectalobsoleteTo remind; put one's mind on.
Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (12)
  1. nounthat which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason — also: head, brain, psyche, nous
  2. nounrecall or remembrance
  3. nounan opinion formed by judging something — also: judgment, judgement
  4. nounan important intellectual — also: thinker, creative thinker
  5. nounattention
  6. nounyour intention; what you intend to do — also: idea
  7. nounknowledge and intellectual ability — also: intellect
  8. verbbe offended or bothered by; take offense with, be bothered by
  9. verbbe concerned with or about something or somebody
  10. verbbe in charge of or deal with — also: take care
  11. verbpay close attention to; give heed to — also: heed, listen
  12. verbbe on one's guard; be cautious or wary about; be alert to — also: beware
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: heed

Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)mind
  2. Middle Englishminde
  3. Old Englishmynd
  4. Proto-West Germanic*mundi
  5. Proto-Germanic*mundiz
  6. Proto-Indo-European*méntis “thought”
  7. Proto-Indo-Europeanthe

From Middle English minde, munde, imynde, imunde, ȝemynde, ȝemunde, from Old English mynd, ġemynd (“mind, memory”), from Proto-West Germanic *mundi, *gamundi, from Proto-Germanic *mundiz, *gamundiz (“memory, remembrance”), from Proto-Indo-European *méntis (“thought”) (compare also mantis, via Greek), from the root *men- (“to think”).

Cognate with Old High German gimunt ("mind, memory, remembrance"; Middle High German munst (“love, benevolence, joy”)), Old Norse mynd (“image, model”), Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌳𐍃 (gamunds, “remembrance, memory, mind”). Related also to Danish minde (“memory”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish minne (“memory”), Faroese and Icelandic minni (“memory, recall, recollection”), Latin mēns (“mind, reason”), Sanskrit मनस् (mánas), Ancient Greek μένος (ménos), Albanian mënd (“mind, reason”). Related to mantra. Compare also Old English myntan (“to mean, intend, purpose, determine, resolve”). More at mint.

Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “mind”

absent-mindedaftermindamindbadmindbemindbemindedbodymindchildmindclosed-mindedlyclose-mindedlycyberminddouble-mindedenmindforemindgood-mindedgroupmindhivemindlack-mindlike-mindedmastermindmegamindmind-alteringmindbendermind-bendingmindblindnessmindblowmindblowermind-blowingmindblownmind-bodymind-bogglermindbogglingmindbogglinglymind-bogglingmind-controlmindermind-expandingmindfilemindflowmindframe

Phrases & compounds

absence of minda contented mind is a perpetual feasta healthy body is a healthy minda mind is a terrible thing to wasteback of one's mindbad mindbear in mindbe of one mindbicameral mindbig mindblow someone's mindbored out of one's mindbreadth of mindbring to mindcall to mindcast one's mind backchange of mindchange one's mindchange someone's mindclose one's mind
Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “mind” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “mind” came from before it was English.

Native English word, from
Old English
Old English mynd
Deepest root (reconstructed)
Proto-Indo-European
Proto-Indo-European the
Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European root
“thought”
Proto-Indo-European *méntis — rebuilt by linguists from its descendants; never written down.
Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

mind n. [AS. mynd, gemynd; akin to OHG. minna memory, love, G. minne love, Dan. minde mind, memory, remembrance, consent, vote, Sw. minne memory, Icel. minni, Goth. gamunds, L. mens, mentis, mind, Gr. me`nos, Skr. manas mind, man to think. Comment, Man, Mean, v., 3d Mental, Mignonette, Minion, Mnemonic, Money.]

  1. The intellectual or rational faculty in man; the understanding; the intellect; the power that conceives, judges, or reasons; also, the entire spiritual nature; the soul; -- often in distinction from the body.
  2. The state, at any given time, of the faculties of thinking, willing, choosing, and the like; psychical activity or state;
  3. Opinion; judgment; belief.
  4. Choice; inclination; liking; intent; will.

mind v. t. [AS. myndian, gemynd to remember. See Mind, n.]

  1. To fix the mind or thoughts on; to regard with attention; to treat as of consequence; to consider; to heed; to mark; to note.
  2. To occupy one's self with; to employ one's self about; to attend to; as, to mind one's business.
  3. To obey; as, to mind parents; the dog minds his master.
  4. To have in mind; to purpose.

mind v. i.

  1. To give attention or heed; to obey; as, the dog minds well.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: The capability for rational thought.

Despite advancing age, his mind was still as sharp as ever.

“[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:

nounMeaning: The ability to be aware of things.

There was no doubt in his mind that they would win.

nounMeaning: The ability to remember things.

My mind just went blank.

nounMeaning: The ability to focus the thoughts.

I can’t keep my mind on what I’m doing.

nounMeaning: Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.

He was one of history’s greatest minds.

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked, […]1956, Allen Ginsberg, “Howl”, in Howl and Other Poems (Pocket Poets Series), City Lights Books, →OCLC, page 9:

nounMeaning: Thinking characteristic of particular group.

Who knows what really goes through the criminal mind?

nounMeaning: that which is responsible for one's thoughts and feelings; the seat of the faculty of reason

his mind wandered

nounMeaning: recall or remembrance

it came to mind

nounMeaning: an opinion formed by judging something

she changed her mind

nounMeaning: an important intellectual

the great minds of the 17th century

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “mind” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

mind

/maɪnd/

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

mind

/maɪnd/ · noun, verb

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “mind” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) The capability for rational thought.
2. (noun) The ability to be aware of things.
3. (noun) The ability to remember things.
4. (noun) The ability to focus the thoughts.
5. (noun) Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“Despite advancing age, his mind was still as sharp as ever.”

A. The ability to be aware of things.
B. The capability for rational thought.
C. Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.

Circle the meaning used.

“There was no doubt in his mind that they would win.”

A. Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.
B. Thinking characteristic of particular group.
C. The ability to be aware of things.

Circle the meaning used.

“My mind just went blank.”

A. Judgment, opinion, or view.
B. Somebody that embodies certain mental qualities.
C. The ability to remember things.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “mind” come into English from?   A. Ancient Greek  B. Late Latin  C. Anglo-Norman  D. Old English

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “mind” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Proto-Indo-European *méntis. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “mind” to mean: The capability for rational thought.
Write a sentence using “mind” to mean: The ability to be aware of things.
Write a sentence using “mind” to mean: The ability to remember things.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — mind

Which meaning, sentence 1: B. The capability for rational thought.

Which meaning, sentence 2: C. The ability to be aware of things.

Which meaning, sentence 3: C. The ability to remember things.

Origin: D. Old English (Old English mynd)

Journey: English mind ← Middle English minde ← Old English mynd ← Proto-West Germanic *mundi ← Proto-Germanic *mundiz ← Proto-Indo-European *méntis ← Proto-Indo-European the

Some derivatives: absent-minded, aftermind, amind, badmind, bemind, beminded, bodymind, childmind

Original meaning: Proto-Indo-European *méntis — “thought”

Etymology: From Middle English minde, munde, imynde, imunde, ȝemynde, ȝemunde, from Old English mynd, ġemynd (“mind, memory”), from Proto-West Germanic *mundi, *gamundi, from Proto-Germanic *mundiz, *gamundiz (“memory, remembrance”), from Proto-Indo-European *méntis (“thought”) (compare also mantis, via Greek), from the root *men- (“to think”).

Sources: Wiktionary “mind” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mind#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/mind