ancient Roman goddess of arts, crafts, and sciences; wisdom, sense, and reflection (later identified with Greek Athene), late 14c., mynerfe, from Latin Minerva, from Old Latin Menerva, from *menes-wa, from PIE root *men- "mind, understanding, reason" (see mind (n.)). Cf. Sanskrit Manasvini, name of the mother of the Moon, manasvin "full of mind or sense." Related: Minerval.