The Rice University Neologisms Database

a small elevator designed to allow a single person to access different floors of a building. By adding ‘mini,’ a clipped version of ‘miniature,’ the speaker emphasizes the small size of the elevator. In addition, the elevator was built for a small disabled child, so ‘mini’ blended with ‘elevator’ could have been used to generate a youthful, playful tone of something small for a child. ‘Mini” generally evokes a light-hearted tone and emphasizes a small, comfortable elevator suitable for any child. The speaker wanted to ease the mother’s concerns of the safety of the elevator. ‘Elevator’ is a general term for a device that allows people to reach different floors of a building. The speaker wanted to be clever in describing a special type of elevator for a young child. He wanted to distinguish the difference between any ordinary, large elevator. The elevator was personalized with a capacity of holding only a small child in a wheelchair; ‘minivator,’ which emphasizes the personal, little space of the elevator, is appropriate in describing an elevator designed only for the child in mind. The speaker appeared to be motivated by creative variation. ‘Mini’ is often used to describe children in various phrases like “Crayola Mini” and “Mini Golf” which are targeted towards children. The Houston Chronicle also has a Saturday insert called the “Mini Page,” which is specifically designed for children to learn about special topics. As a result, ‘mini’ has become associated with children. The speaker realized that ‘mini’ is indicative of children, and he wanted to emphasize that the elevator was especially made for the disabled child. Hence, he coined the elevator as the ‘minivator.’