Ma″jor, n. [F. major. See Major, a.] 1. (Mil.) An officer next in rank above a captain and next below a lieutenant colonel; the lowest field officer.
2. (Law) A person of full age.
3. (Logic) That premise which contains the major term. It its the first proposition of a regular syllogism; as: No unholy person is qualified for happiness in heaven. Every man in his natural state is unholy. Therefore, no man in his natural state is qualified for happiness in heaven.
☞ In hypothetical syllogisms, the hypothetical premise is called the major.
4. [LL. See Major.] A mayor. Bacon.