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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Major

Mā'jor, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. major, comparative of magnus, great; Fr. majeur, O. Fr. major, Pr. majer, major, Sp. mayor, Pg. maior, mayor, It. maggiore.]

  1. Greater in number, quantity, or extent; as, the major part of the assembly; the major part of the revenue; the major part of the territory.
  2. Of greater dignity; more important.

My major vow lies here. Shak. Major interval (Mus.), an interval greater by a half-step (semitone) than the minor interval of the same denomination; thus, a major third is an interval of two steps (tones), while a minor third consists of a step and a half-step (tone and semitone). — Major mode, that mode in which the third and sixth tones of the scale form major intervals with the tonic or key-note; in the minor mode, those intervals are minor. — Major premise (Logic), that premise of a syllogism which contains the major term. — Major term, that term of a syllogism which forms the predicate of the conclusion.

Mā'jor, n.

noun

n. 1. (Mil.) An officer next in rank above a captain and below a lieutenant-colonel; the lowest field officer.

  1. (Civil Law.) A person of full age.
  2. The mayor of a town. See MAYOR.
  3. (Logic.) That premise which contains the major term; it is the first proposition of a regular syllogism; as, No unholy person is qualified for happiness in heaven [the major]. Every man in his natural state is unholy [minor]. Therefore, no man in his natural state is qualified for happiness in heaven [conclusion or inference].

☞ In hypothetical syllogisms, the hypothetical premise is called the major. Aid-major (Mil.), an officer appointed to act as major on certain occasions—Brigade-major. See BRIGADE.—Drum-major. (a.) The first drummer in a regiment, who has authority over the other drummers. (b.) A noisy, convivial entertainment. [Obs.] See DRUM.—Fife-major, the first or chief fifer in a military band.—Sergeant-major, a non-commissioned officer, subordinate to the adjutant.