1720, "an outstanding intellect," from master (n.) + mind (n.). Meaning "head of a criminal enterprise" is attested by 1872. As a verb (also mastermind), "to engage in the highest level of planning and execution of a major operation," from 1940. Related: Masterminded; masterminding.

"that causes the mind to be overwhelmed," by 1964; see mind (n.) + present participle of boggle (v.).

"one who tends or takes care of anything," mid-15c., agent noun from mind (v.). Also from 15c. in now-obsolete sense of "one who has a good memory."

mid-14c., "having knowledge, remembrance, or recognition;" late 14c., "taking thought or care, heedful," from mind (n.) + -ful. Related: Mindfully. Old English myndful meant "of good memory." Old English also had myndig (adj.) "mindful, recollecting; thoughtful" (Middle English myndy), which if it had lived might have yielded a modern *mindy.

c. 1400, "unmindful, heedless, negligent," also "senseless, beside oneself, irrational, wanting power of thought," from mind (n.) + -less. Related: Mindlessly; mindlessness. Old English had myndleas "foolish, senseless."

"one who professes to discern what is in another's mind," by 1862, from mind (n.) + read (v.). Related: Mind-reading (n.), which is attested by 1869. The older word was clairvoyance.

also mind-set, "habits of mind formed by previous experience," 1916, in educators' and psychologists' jargon; see mind (n.) + set (n.2).

in ancient Roman mythology, one of the three chief divinities (with Jupiter and Juno), a virgin goddess of arts, crafts, and sciences; wisdom, sense, and reflection (later identified with Greek Athene), late 14c., Mynerfe, minerve, from Latin Minerva, from Old Latin Menerva, from Proto-Italic *menes-wo- "intelligent, understanding," from PIE root *men- (1) "to think, remember," with derivatives referring to qualities of mind or states of thought (see mind (n.)). Compare Sanskrit Manasvini, name of the mother of the Moon, manasvin "full of mind or sense." Related: Minerval.

Minerva Press, a printing-press formerly in Leadenhall Street, London; also a class of ultra-sentimental novels, remarkable for their intricate plots, published from about 1790 to 1810 at this press, and other productions of similar character. [Century Dictionary]

also never-mind "difference, matter for attention," 1935, American English, from verbal expression never mind "forget it, pay no attention to it," originally never mind it attested by 1795; see never + mind (v.).

1640s, "to remember, recall (something) to one's mind" (a sense now obsolete); 1650s as "put (someone) in mind of (something), bring to the remembrance of;" from re- "again" + mind (v.). A Latin-Germanic hybrid. Related: Reminded; reminding.