MINUSCULE

Mi‐nus″cule (?), n. [[L. minusculus rather small, fr. minus less: cf. F. minuscule.]] 1. 1. Any very small, minute object.
2. 2. A small Roman letter which is neither capital nor uncial; a manuscript written in such letters. — a. Of the size and style of minuscules; written in minuscules.

These minuscule letters are cursive forms of the earlier uncials. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).