(n.) A minute particular; a small or minor detail; -- used chiefly in the plural.
Example Sentences:
(1) The results of repair of posterior urethral strictures, even the complex ones, by anastomotic procedures can be excellent but real competence depends upon a particular aptitude of the surgeon for the minutiae of reconstructive techniques, appropriate training in a specializing department, a real ongoing numerical experience and special instrumentation with facilities for detailed urodynamic evaluation of this sphincter active area of the urethra.
(2) If she genuinely can't understand that, there is little point her pontificating on any of the minutiae of the free market system nor the political or economic world at large.
(3) "The longer we all argue about minutiae and statistics, the more rainforest disappears.
(4) Since the first teaser trailer was released 11 months ago , we’ve been spoonfed a steady diet of images and story details – carefully chosen to reveal very little and keep us obsessing about minutiae like the colour of C-3PO’s arm .
(5) In a swish office block on one side of a sweeping square, a youthful, multinational organising committee staff that will soon number 1,200 busy themselves with the minutiae of hosting a sporting event of this magnitude.
(6) Others with dull remits keep minutiae out of red boxes, so ministers can focus on the big picture.
(7) It's almost funny when you think about it – all those European bureaucrats beavering away over the minutiae of the trade deal, and then along comes Putin with a sack of cash and scuppers the whole thing in a matter of minutes.
(8) Comparative analysis confirmed by the statistical analysis showed significant differences in the incidence of particular minutiae types on the hand palms of children with Down's syndrome and control group.
(9) Female friendships are built on knowing about the minutiae, and just like news, they require your presence.
(10) Some of the changes in medical education discussed include excessive emphasis on incurable diseases and scientific minutiae instead of practical clinical problems, changes in the roles and images of clinical teachers, importance placed on faculty research, decline in actual patient care, and a new and welcome proliferation of training programs for family physicians.
(11) Where the first had been a clear offside, the second non-award was courtesy of a minutia of the laws of the game.
(12) Much greater attention is paid to the minutiae of social context, as it has become clear that a vaccination programme that works well in one location may fail in another, for reasons relating to social order that outsiders do not understand.
(13) It was their mistake to believe that the public was as interested in the minutiae of industrial relations as they were.
(14) As long as the decisions he takes as leader show he is not in the unions' pocket, and does not feel unduly indebted to them for the support they gave him in the leadership election, then the constitutional minutiae of his relationship with them are of negligible significance.
(15) Administrators and others responsible for the design of environments for the mentally ill must be aware that what might be considered irrelevant minutiae of design can have traumatic effects on patients.
(16) But any deal that merely tweaks the minutiae will only inflame grassroots doctors.
(17) Ordinary people can imagine the erosion of their social surroundings in everyday terms of stories and images that are fed to them in an exaggerated form, of an existential fight between us and them over who owns even the minutiae of life: where we live, the languages we speak and, in the case of the halal certification “debate”, what we eat.
(18) The minutiae of broadcasting regulations are unlikely to be vote winners so it is unsurprising that ITV fails to get a specific mention.
(19) He has called for an emergency meeting of EU finance ministers to examine the minutiae of the recalculated budget contributions which, in addition to asking Britain for €2.1bn, also refund Germany and France to the tune of €780m and €1.16bn.
(20) The minutiae of his plans are thrilling to anyone who's a fashion nerd, but what is particularly fascinating is how all of Hedi's work – reported by naysayers as disrespectful, egotistical – was actually inspired by Yves Saint Laurent himself.
Picayune
Definition:
(n.) A small coin of the value of six and a quarter cents. See Fippenny bit.
Example Sentences:
(1) I didn’t know who all of these groups were and I detest any kind of hate group,” the Louisiana congressman told the Times-Picayune newspaper.
(2) The hate-fueled ignorance and intolerance that group projects is in stark contradiction to what Mr Scalise believes and practices as a father, a husband, and a devoted Catholic.” Nonetheless, Scalise confirmed in his subsequent Times-Picayune interview that he was aware of Duke – who is said to have addressed the conference by video-link – and it has been reported that the hotel that hosted the event was concerned enough to rebuke the group after it found out their politics.
(3) Last year Walter Maestri, emergency chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, one of the worst affected areas, reportedly told the Times-Picayune newspaper: "It appears that the money [for strengthening levees against hurricanes] has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that's the price we pay.
(4) Texas Republicans' niggling over the picayune filibuster rules would give the plot some comic relief, too: they gave one of the "three strikes" allowed under the rules for accepting help in adjusting the back brace she wore to aid her during her marathon speechifying (senators are not allowed to lean on anything during their time).