mite

mite
\ \ English has two words mite, although they probably share a common origin. The older, ‘tiny insect-like creature’ [OE], goes back to a prehistoric Germanic *mītōn, which was probably derived from a base meaning ‘cut’ (hence ‘something cut up small’). Dutch has the related mijt. The original meaning of mite ‘small thing’ [14] was ‘small coin’ (as in the ‘widow’s mite’). It was used in Flanders for such a coin, worth a third of a penny, and Middle Dutch mīte was borrowed into English. It too goes back to a Germanic mītōn, which is probably the same word as produced the animated mite.

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат
Synonyms:
, , , ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • mité — mité …   Dictionnaire des rimes

  • mite — [ mit ] n. f. • XIIIe; moy. néerl. mite 1 ♦ Arthropode (acarien ou arachnide) qui vit au détriment de matières végétales ou animales. Mite de la farine, du fromage. 2 ♦ Cour. Petit papillon blanchâtre de la famille des teignes dont les larves… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Mite — (m[imac]t), n. [AS. m[=i]te mite (in sense 1); akin to LG. mite, D. mijt, G. miete, OHG. m[=i]za; cf. Goth. maitan to cut.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A minute arachnid, of the order {Acarina}, of which there are many species; as, the dust mite, cheese mite,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mite — [maıt] n [: Old English;] 1.) a very small creature that lives in plants, ↑carpets etc 2.) spoken a small child, especially one that you feel sorry for ▪ Poor mite! You must be starving! 3.) a mite slightly = ↑a bit ▪ She s a mite shy. ▪ …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • mité — mité, ée (mi té, tée) adj. Rongé des mites, larves de lépidoptères. Fourrure mitée. ÉTYMOLOGIE    Mite. SUPPLÉMENT AU DICTIONNAIRE    MITÉ. Ajoutez : •   Si Ferré n eût point été D une exacte probité, D une austère prudhommie, Mes vers auraient… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • Mite 1 — (Torniella,Италия) Категория отеля: Адрес: 53015 Torniella, Италия Описани …   Каталог отелей

  • mite — [ maıt ] noun count 1. ) a very small insect that lives in foods, on plants, or on animals 2. ) SPOKEN a young child or animal, especially one you feel sorry for a mite OLD FASHIONED 1. ) slightly: He looked a mite upset. 2. ) a small amount of… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • mite — Ⅰ. mite [1] ► NOUN ▪ a minute arachnid, several kinds of which are parasitic. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ. mite [2] ► NOUN 1) a small child or animal. 2) …   English terms dictionary

  • mite — MÍTE conj. v. dar, darămite. Trimis de siveco, 13.09.2007. Sursa: Sinonime  míte adv. Trimis de siveco, 10.08.2004. Sursa: Dicţionar ortografic …   Dicționar Român

  • mite — mite1 [mīt] n. [ME < OE, akin to OHG miza, a gnat < IE base * mai , to cut, cut off > MAD] any of a large subclass (Acari) of tiny, sometimes microscopic, arachnids often parasitic upon animals, insects, or plants, or infesting prepared… …   English World dictionary

  • Mite — (engl., spr. Meiht), englisches Gold u. Silbergewicht = 2/3 holl. As …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”