petit

[ pet-ee; French puh-tee ]
/ ˈpɛt i; French pəˈti /

adjective Law.

small; petty; minor.

Origin of petit

1325–75; Middle English < Middle French; see petty

Words nearby petit

petiolar, petiolate, petiole, petiolule, petipa, petit, petit beurre, petit bourgeois, petit déjeuner, petit feu, petit four

Definition for petit (2 of 2)

ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem
[ en-se pe-tit plah-ki-dahm soo b lee-ber-tah-te kwee-ey-tem; English en-see pee-tit plas-i-dam suhb lib-er-tey-tee kwahy-ee-tem ]
/ ˈɛn sɛ ˈpɛ tɪt ˈplɑ kɪˌdɑm sʊb ˌli bɛrˈtɑ tɛ kwiˈeɪ tɛm; English ˈɛn si ˈpi tɪt ˈplæs ɪˌdæm sʌb ˌlɪb ərˈteɪ ti kwaɪˈi tɛm /

Latin.

by the sword she seeks quiet peace under liberty: motto of Massachusetts.

Example sentences from the Web for petit

British Dictionary definitions for petit (1 of 2)

petit
/ (ˈpɛtɪ) /

adjective

(prenominal) mainly law of little or lesser importance; small petit jury

Word Origin for petit

C14: from Old French: little, of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for petit (2 of 2)

Petit
/ (French pəti) /

noun

Roland (rɔlɑ̃). 1924–2011, French ballet dancer and choreographer. His innovative ballets include Carmen (1949), Kraanerg (1969), and The Blue Angel (1985); he also choreographed films, such as Anything Goes (1956) and Black Tights (1960)