mispursuit *mis-pur-suit', s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. pursuit (q. v.). A wrong or mistaken pursuit. "Full of mere sordid misbeliefs, mispursuits, and misresults."-Carlyle: Life of Sterling, ch. viii. *mis-quême, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. queme (q. v.).] To displease. "If any man there misqueme." The Plowman's Tale, pt. iii. mis-quo-tā -tion, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. quotation (q. v.).] An incorrect or false quotation. mis-quote', v. t. [Prefix mis-, and English quote (q. v.).J 1. To quote falsely or incorrectly; to cite incor. rectly. "Take hackneyed jokes from Miller, got by rote, *2. To misinterpret; to misconstrue. "Look how we can, or sad, or merrily, Interpretation will misquote our looks." Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. I., v. 2. mis-răişe', v. t. [Prefix mis-, and English raise (q. v.).] To raise, rouse, or excite wrongly or without due cause. mis-rāte, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. rate, v. (q. v.)] To rate, value, or estimate wrongly or insufficiently. "Assuming false, or misrating true advantages."-Barrow: Sermons, vol. iii., ser. 29. mis-read', v. t. [Prefix mis-, and English read (q. v.).] To read incorrectly; to mistake the meaning of. mis-re-çēive', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. receive (q. v.).] To receive amiss. mis-re-çit -al, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. recital (q. v.).] An incorrect or faulty recital. mis-re-çite', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. recite (q. v.).] To recite wrongly or incorrectly. *mis-rěck-on, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. reckon (q. v.).] 1. To count or compute wrong, to miscalculate. 2. To lead astray in reckoning or calculation. "His heart misreckons him."-South: Sermons, vol. vi., ser. 11. 2730 mis-rě-pört', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. report, 1. To report wrongly or falsely, to give a false "A man that never yet "We find you shameful liars and misreporters.”—Phil- mis-rep -rĕ-şĕnt, v. t. & i. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. represent (q. v.).] A. Trans.: To represent falsely or incorrectly; to give a false, incorrect, or imperfect representation or account of, either intentionally or from carelessness. "A writer lies under no very pressing temptation to *B. Intrans.: To present false or incorrect repre- 1. The act of misrepresenting or misreporting; "By how much the worse, and more scândalous the misrepresentation is, by so much the grosser and more intolerable must be the idolatry."-South: Sermons, vol. ii., ser. 4. 2. A false or incorrect representation or account, made either intentionally or through carelessness or ignorance. mis-rep-rě-şĕnt-a-tive, a. & s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. representative (q. v.).] A. As adj.: Tending to misrepresent or convey a false representation or impression; misrepresenting. B. As subst.: One who should represent, but who really misrepresents his constituents. mis-rec-01-lěc-tion, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. recollection (q. v.).] Erroneous or imperfect recol--New York Tribune, Jan. 26, 1862. lection. *mis-re-fĕr', *miss-re-ferre, v. i. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. refer (q. v.).] To refer or report wrongly. *mis-re-flect, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. reflect (q. v.).] To reflect wrongly, to misrepresent. "Misreflect the object." - Tuke: Adventures of Five Hours, iv. mis-re-form', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. reform (q. v.).] To reform wrongly or imperfectly. *mis-re-gard', s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. regard (q. v.).] Misconstruction, misconception; want of attention or care. "When as these rimes be read With misregard." Spenser: F. Q., IV. viii. 29. mis-reg-u-lâte, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. regulate (q. v.).] To regulate amiss or imperfectly. mis-re-hearse, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English rehearse (q. v.).] To rehearse, recite, or quote wrongly or erroneously. "I both misrehearse and misconstrue."-Sir T. More: Works, p. 1,009. mis-re-late', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. relate (q. v.).] To relate falsely or inaccurately. mis-re-la -tion, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. relation (q.v.). The act of relating wrongly; a false or incorrect relation or narrative. *mis-re-lig-ion, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. religion (q. v.).] False religion. tmis-re-měm -ber, v. t. & i. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. remember (q. v.).] A. Trans.: Not to remember; to remember imperfectly; to forget. "Misremembering one worde of his."-Sir T. More: Works, p. 1,139. B. Intrans.: To remember imperfectly; to mistake in remembering. "Having inquired how long he had kept the wood in seasoning before I had the mortar, he answered me (if I much misremember not) twenty years."-Boyle: Works, i. 449. mis-rĕn-der, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. render (q. v.).] To render, construe, or translate incorrectly. "Polished and fashionable expressions in their own language, how coarsely soever they have been misrendered in ours."-Boyle: Works, ii. 297. fate, făt, färe, amidst, what, fâll, "A better reply from that misrepresentative of Indiana." 8. [Eng. misrepresent; -er.] One who misrepresents. "Vindicate the misreputed honor of God."-Milton: *mis-re-şĕm'-blançe, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. resemblance (q. v.).] A bad likeness. Milton: P. L., vii. 271. missanswer miss, *misse, v. t. &i. [A. S. missan, missian; cogn. with Dut. missen to miss, from mis=an error, a mistake; Icel. missa to miss, lose; mis= amiss; Dan. miste to lose; Sw. mista=to lose; miste wrongly, amiss; Goth. missa=wrongly; Ger. missen; O. H. Ger. missan-to miss; M. H. Ger. misse an error.] A. Transitive: 1. To fail to reach, gain, obtain, or find. Robert of Gloucester, p. 584. 2. To fail to hit. Shakesp.: Taming of the Shrew, v. 2. 5. To be without; to do without; to dispense with. "We cannot miss him; he does make our fire, 6. To feel or perceive the want of; to discover or notice the absence, want, or omission of; to desid erate. "Every month his native land remembers and misses him less."-Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. v. B. Intransitive: *1. To go astray; to err. "What wonder then, if one of women all did miss?" Spenser: F. Q., III. ix. 2. 2. To fail to hit, reach, or attain the mark; to miscarry. "Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he To be th' inventor miss'd."-Milton: P. L., vi. 499. It was formerly followed by of. "Grittus missing of the Moldavian fell upon Maylat." -Knolles: Hist. of the Turks. (1) To be missing: To be lost or wanting; not to be found. (2) To miss stays: Naut.: [STAY, 8.] miss (2), *mis, *mys, *misse (2), s. [Miss, v.] I. Ordinary Language: *1. A fault, an offense; a failure of duty. "To mend my misse."-William of Palerne, 532. 2. A mistake, an error. "He did without any very great miss in the hardest points of grammar."-Ascham: Schoolmaster. *3. Harm or hurt from mistake. "And though one fall through heedless haste, Yet is his misse not mickle." Spenser: Shepherd's Calendar. 4. A failure to hit, reach, obtain, &c.; as, to make a miss in firing at a target. *5. A feeling of the loss, absence, or want of something. "I should have a heavy miss of thee." Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. I., v. 4. *6. Loss, absence. "Those that mourn for the miss of others."-Sutton: Learn to Die (ed. 1848), p. 184. II. Billiards: A stroke in which the player's ball does not hit another ball, or, in pool, hits the wrong ball. mis-said' (ai as ě), pa. par. or a. [MISSAY.] mis-sal, s. & a. [Low Lat. missale, from missa =a mass; O. Fr. missel, messel; French missel; Sp. "The state of Ireland at the accession of the Tudors "Curb the raunge of his misruly tongue." A. As substantive: Eccles. & Church Hist.: The book containing the whole service of the mass throughout the year. In its present arrangement it dates from about the middle of the fourteenth century. The Roman missal is used generally throughout the Roman 1. An unmarried female, a girl, a young woman or Church, though the Ambrosian obtains in the diogirl. "And how does miss and madam do?" Couper: Yearly Distress. unmarried female; a form of address *4. A strumpet, a prostitute. II. Cards: An extra hand dealt aside on the table in three-card loo, for which a player is at liberty to exchange his hand. cese of Milan, and many religious orders have their own missals, differing only in unimportant particulars from the Roman. Eastern Christians of the Communion with Rome have missals peculiar to their own rite. [RITE, 11.] Missals from which mass is said are, of course, in the ecclesiastical languages; those for the use of the laity have a translation in the vernacular, side by side with the Latin or other ecclesiastical language. *B. As adj.: Pertaining to the mass. (Bp. Hall: Old Religion, ch. v.). *miss-an-swer, *misse-an-swer (w silent), s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. answer, s. (q. v.)] A failure. "After the misseanswer of the one talent."-Bp. Hall: Contempl.; Vayle of Moses. father; wē, wět, here, camel, her, thêre; pine, pit, sïre, sir, marîne; gỗ, pot, ey = ǎ. qu A. Transitive: 1. To say or speak wrongly or amiss. *2. To speak ill of; to slander. B. Intransitive: 2731 mis-shap'-en-ly, adv. [Eng. misshapen; -ly.] mis-shāp-en-ness, s. [Eng. misshapen; -ness.] *mis-sif-i-cāte, v. i._ [Low Lat. missa=mass, and Lat. facio-to do.] To celebrate mass. mis-sile, a. & 8. [Lat. missilis=that can be 1. To say wrong; to make a mistake in what one thrown; neut. missile (telum)=(a weapon) that can be thrown, from missus, pa. par. of mitto-to 2. To speak ill or abusively. send.] says. *mis-say -ĕr, *mis-say-ere, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng, sayer (q. v.).] One who missays; an evilspeaker. *mis-script', s. [Pref. mis-, and Lat. scriptum a thing written; scribo to write.] A word wrongly or incorrectly written. "These misscripts look as if descendants of analyzo and paralyzo."-Fitz-Edward Hall: Modern English, p. 175. mis-seē', v. i. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. see (q. v.).] To take a wrong view. "Herein he fundamentally mistook, missaw, and mis went."-Carlyle: Miscellanies, iv. 236. *mis-seek', *mis-seke, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. seek (q. v.).] To seek or search for wrongly, or in a wrong direction. "And yet the thing, that most is your desire, Wyatt: Of the meane and sure Estate. *mis-seēm', v. i. [Pref. mis-, and English seem (q. v.).] 1. To make a false appearance. 2. To be unbecoming; to misbecome, *mis-seêm -ing, a. & s. [Eng. misseem; -ing.] A. As adj.: Unbecoming, misbecoming. "For never knight I saw in such misseeming plight." Spenser: F. Q., I. ix. 28. B. As subst.: Deceit; false show or appearance. "With her witchcraft and misseeming sweete." Spenser: F. Q., I. vii. 50. mis-sel, s. [MISTLETOE.] Ornith. The same as MISSEL-THRUSH. *missel-bird, s. [MISSEL-THRUSH.] missel-thrush, *missel-bird, s. Ornith.: Turdus viscivorus; called also the Holmthrush, from its partiality to the holm-oak (Quercus ilex), or from its feeding on the berries of the Butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus), known as A. As adjective: 1. Capable of being thrown or hurled; fit for being hurled or projected from the hand, or an in strument, or engine. "To raise the mast, the missile dart to wing, B. As subst.: A weapon or projectile thrown or miss -ing, a. [MISS, v.] Lost, missed, wanting; not to be found in the place where it was expected to be found. "If by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life."-1 Kings xx. 39. *miss -ing-ly, adv. [Eng. missing; -ly.] With regret; with a feeling of regret. missish or Jew, was common or unclean, having removed the prejudice against the propagation of the gospel among the Gentiles (x), St. Paul became their special apostle, while St. Peter had for his chief charge the Jews. Tradition is probably correct in making every apostle a missionary, though details as to their several spheres are not trustworthy. In anteNicene times a series of zealous missionaries labored to spread the gospel. A certain tacit compromise with the prior faiths took place in various respects. The pagan festivals in particular showed intense tenacity of life, and as a rule it was found needful to give them a Christian varnish, and adopt them into the new religion. On the establishment of Christianity under Constantine in the fourth cent ury, the civil power concerned itself about the spread of Christianity, and early in the ninth Charlemagne effected the conversion of the Saxons aries appeared. Thus, St. Patrick, who labored in by a series of bloody wars. But genuine missionthe fifth century, is called the "Apostle of Ireland;" Winifred, or Boniface, in the eighth century, the "Apostle of Germany." Christianity had reached Britain in Roman times, but the early British churches having been trampled out by the pagan Anglo-Saxons, Augustine and forty monks were sent to Canterbury. He became the "Apostle of England," and the first English primate. In the East, the Nestorians, from the eighth to the fourteenth centuries, prosecuted missions in Tartary and other parts of Asia, their zeal and devotion eliciting the admiration of Gibbon. The first Spaniards in this country and the Portuguese in India made it a prominent object to spread Christianity, using, however, force for the purpose. In the sixteenth century, the order of Jesuits was established, to spread the Roman Catholic faith abroad as well as defend it at home. This order established missions in India, China, Japan, and South America. The greatest name was Francis Xavier (1506-1522), the Apostle of the Indies." The zeal of the Jesuits other orders. The Society de Propaganda Fide was instituted in 1622. The Protestant churches, while in conflict with Rome during the sixteenth and sev enteenth centuries, had little energy to spare for missions. In 1701 there arose in England the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and immediately thereafter the denominations began each to follow this example. During the present century all Christian churches have engaged in foreign mission work. The missionaries have extended their operations over the whole habitable globe, and have expended enormous sums of money in their ardent desire to evangelize heathen nations. "I have, missingly, noted, he is of late much retired I. Ordinary Language: 1. The act of sending; a sending, a despatching. 4. Persons sent or delegated by authority to per- holm-berries; and the Storm-cock from its singing charged; a commission; a charge or duty intrusted. many heathen at home?" helped to create home The name both before and during wind and rain. Missel-thrush is derived from the fact that the bird feeds on the berries of the mistletoe. Upper surface, nearly uniform clove-brown; under, yellowishwhite with black spots; tail slightly forked. Length of adult bird about eleven inches; the males and females exhibit little difference in size or plumage. (Yarrell.) [THRUSH.] *mis-sem-blançe, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. semblance (q. v.).] A false semblance or resemblance. mis-send', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English send (q. v.).]. To send wrongly or amiss; as, to missend a parcel. *mis-sense', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English sense (q. v.).] To confuse, to confound, to misunderstand. "Missensing his lines."-Feltham: Resolves, p. 107. mis-sent', pa. par. or a. [MISSEND.] *mis-cen-tençe, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. sentence (q.v.).] A wrong sentence. mis-serve', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English serve 1q.v.).] To serve wrongly or unfaithfully; to fail in serving. "You shall inquire whether the good statute be observed, whereby a man may have what he thinketh he hath, and not be abused or misserved in that he buys."Bacon: Judicial Charge. mis-sět, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. set, v. (q. v.).] To set in the wrong place or position; to misplace. mis-sět, adj. [MISSET, v.] Put out of sorts. (Scotch.) mis-shape, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. shape, v. (q. v.). To shape ill; to give an ill-shape or form to; to deform. mis-shape, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. shape, s. (q. v.)] An ill or incorrect shape or form; deform ity. did seem to looke askew "The one of them That her misshape much helpt." Spenser: F. Q., V. xii. 29. mis-shap'-en, pa. par. or a. [MISSHAPE.] Ill shaped, ill-formed, deformed. "Crowded with withered or misshapen figures."-Gold : Bee, No. boil, boy; pout, jowl; cat, -tian = shan. -tion, -cian, (1) The act of appointing to the cure of souls by a lawful superior. In the Roman Church the mission of a priest is derived from his bishop, who receives his mission from the Pope. There are two views as to mission in the Anglican Church: (1) that mission is conferred with consecration; and (2) that it is derived from the Crown. The former view is the one more generally held; though the supporters of the latter might effectively quote the words in which an Anglican bishop does homage to the sovereign for his see. Among non-episcopal denominations, mission is generally the act of a governing body. (2) A quasi-parish. In countries not in communion with the Roman Church, priests are appointed to missions, and are removable at the will of the bishop. (3) The holding of special services in any particular district with the view of stirring up the inhabitants to a more active spiritual life. 2. Plural: (1) Foreign Missions: The injunction of Jesus which renders the duty of instituting missions imperative on the Christian Church is found in Matt. xxviii. 18-20 and Mark xvi. 15-18. The latter version of the command belongs to that portion of the last chapter of Mark which is of doubtful authenticity [MARK]. The Acts of the Apostles narrate the Pentecostal descent of the Holy Spirit accompanied by the gift of tongues, this miraculous endowment being evidently designed for missionary purposes (Acts ii.). They tell also how Peter and John (ii. 14, v. &c.), and subsequently Saul, or Paul, fulfilled the final command of Jesus (xiii.-xxviii). The revelation made to Peter that no man, Gentile çhin, bench; go, gem; thin, this; zhun. -tious, -cious, -şion -tion, (2) Home Missions: The taunt, Why send so much money abroad when there are practically so missions, which are now prosecuted with ardor in nearly every city and town in this country and in all Christian nations. B. As adj.: Of or pertaining to missions or missionaries. mis-sion (sion as shun), v. t. [MISSION, 8.] To send on a mission; to commission, to delegate. *mis'-sion-ar-1-ness (sion as shun), s. [Eng. missionary; -ness.] The quality or state of a missionary; fitness or aptitude for the position or office of a missionary. "Their rapid insight and fine aptitude, Particular worth and general missionariness As long as they keep quiet by the fire." E. B. Browning: Aurora Leigh, i. mis-sion-a-ry (sion as shun), s. & a. [English mission; ary; Fr. missionaire.] A. As subst. One who is sent upon a religious mission; one who is sent to propagate religion. "His friends said that he had been a missionary: his enemies that he had been a buccaneer."-Macaulay: "By missionary-religions I meant those in which the spreading of the truth and the conversion of unbelievers his immediate successors."-Max Müller: Chips from a are raised to the rank of a sacred duty by the founder or German Workshop, iv. 318. mis-sion-āte (sion as shun), v. i. [Eng. mission; -ate.] To act or go on a mission. mis-sión-er (sion as shun), s. [Eng. mission; er.] One who is sent on a mission; a missionary. "This extraordinary conduct was due, as the priests allege, to the action of certain German missioners."Echo, Jan. 5, 1882. miss -Ish, a. [Eng. miss (1), s.; -ish.] Like a miss; prim, affected, lackadaisical. missishness miss-Ish-ness, s. [Eng. missish; -ness.] The airs or affectation of a young miss; primness, affectation. "I have lost him by my own want of decision-my own missishness rather, in liking to have lovers, in order to tease them."-T. Hook: All in the Wrong, ch. ii. Mis-sis-sip-pi, subst. [Native name=the great water.] Geog. The large river traversing the center of the North American continent. Mis-sis-sip-pi, subst. One of the United States. Name of Indian origin, being derived from the great river of the same name. Bayou State." Visited by De Soto 1542, by La Salle 1682. Settled Biloxi, 1699. by M. de Iberville. Admitted 1817; seceded 1861; re-admitted 1870. Formed part of the territory of Louisiana, and belonged to France. Seventh state admitted. Capital fixed at Jackson, 1822. State active in war 1814 and with Mexico. Vicksburg the most notable battle of the rebellion in the state. Miles railroad 1844, 26. Number colleges 3, school age 5-21, school system fair. Climate mild, snow and ice unknown. Summers long and warm, July and August hottest months. Temperature averages summer 80°, winter 50°. Rainfall 46 inches at north, 58 inches at south. Highlands very healthy. Malaria in bottoms. Mississippi-alligator, s. Zoology: Alligator lucius, sometimes called the Pike-headed Alligator. Length, from fourteen to fifteen feet; deep greenish-brown above, yellow below, with the sides more or less striped. Fish forms their staple food, but it is said that they sometimes attack large quadrupeds, and even human beings. *mis-sit, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. sit (q. v.).] To sit ill upon; to misbecome. miss-ive, a. & s. [Fr., from Lat. missus. pa. par. of mitto-to send.] *A. As adjective: 1. Sent or proceeding from an authoritative source. 2. Fitted or intended to be thrown, hurled, or projected; missile. "Atrides first discharg'd the missive spear.' B. As substantive: I. Ordinary Language: 1. That which is sent or dispatched; an announce. ment or injunction sent by a messenger; a message, a letter.. *2. A person sent; a messenger. "While I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king, who all-hail'd me Thane of Cawdor.". Shakesp.: Macbeth, i. 5. II. Scots Law: A letter interchanged between parties, in which the one party offers to buy or sell, or enter into any contract, on certain conditions, and the other party accepts the offer completing the contract. *miss-maze, s. [MIZMAZE.] mis-sound', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. sound (q. v.). To sound or pronounce wrongly or amiss. Mis-sôu'-ri, s. One of the United States. Name Indian, means "Muddy River," and was taken from that of the river of the same name. Settled first at St. Genevieve. Organized as territory under pres ent name 1812; included Arkansas, Indian Territory, &c. Admitted March 20, 1821. Eleventh state admitted. State divided on secession, and was scene of perpetual internal warfare. Martial law declared August, 1862. Union soldiers furnished 109,111. Admission aroused much discussion. "Missouri Compromise" effected and state permitted to retain slavery. School age 6-20, school system good, endowments large. Climate variable, with sudden changes, but generally pleasant and healthy. Average temperature summer 76°, winter39'. Rainfall greatest in May; averages 34 inches. Summers are long and warm, but not enervating. Winters moderate, with occasional severe days. Missouri Compromise, s. Hist.: A name popularly given to an Act of the American Congress, passed in 1820, and intended to reconcile the Pro- and Anti-slavery parties. By this Act it was determined that Missouri should be admitted into the Union as a slaveholding state, but that slavery should never be established in any state, to be formed in the future, lying north of latitude 36 30. Missouri-rattlesnake, 8. Zool.: Crotalus confluentus (Say). A slender snake, from two to three feet long. It is found from California to Utah, but the Yellowstone is its favorite locality. mis-soy, s. [MASSOY.] A. Intransitive: 2732 1. To speak wrongly or amiss; to err in speaking. 2. To speak ill of anybody. Gower: C. A., ii. mis-spend, mis pend, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and To apples, otherwise mispends itself." *mis-spense', *mis-spençe', *mis-pençe', s. waste. "The mispence of money, and that which farre tran- mis-spěnt', pa. par. & a. [MISSPEND.] mis-state', v. t. [Prefix mis-, and English state mis-state-ment, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. statement (q. v.).] A false or incorrect statement; an incorrect representation of the facts; a misrepresentation. mis-stay', v. i. [Eng. miss, v., and stay, s. (q.v.)] mis-stayed', a. [Eng. misstay; -ed.] mis-stěp', *mis-steppe, v. i. [Pref. mis-, and step. ceed (q. v.).] To turn out ill. ii. 7. *mis-sug-ģes -tion (i as y), s. [Pref. mis-, and " mist, v. t. & i. [MIST, 8.] A. Trans.: To cover as with mist; to cloud, to dim. "Lend me a looking-glass; If that her breath will mist or stain the stone, Why then she lives." Shakesp.: Lear, v. 3. B. Intrans.: To be misty; to drizzle. mis-tāk-a-ble, mis-take-a-ble, a. [English mistak(e); -able.] Capable of being mistaken; lia. ble to be mistaken; liable to misconception. "They are set forth in minor and less mistakeable num bers."-Browne: Vulgar Errors, bk. vi., ch. i. mis-tāke, v. t. & i. [Icel. mistaka = to take by mistake.] "But your true trick, rascal, must be, to be ever busy, and mistake away the bottles and cans, in haste, before they be half drunk off."-Ben Jonson: Bartholomew Fair, iii. 2. 3. To take or understand wrongly; to conceive or understand erroneously; to misapprehend, to misunderstand; to misconceive. "My father's purposes have been mistook," Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. II., iv. 2. 4. To take one person or thing for another; to imagine erroneously one person or thing to be another. "Men are apt to mistake a want of vigor in their imaginations for a delicacy in their judgments."Young: On Lyric Poetry. B. Intransitive: 1. To make a mistake in judgment; to misjudge, to be in error; to be under a misapprehension. *2. To transgress; to commit a fault. "Ye that ayenst your love mistaketh." Romaunt of the Rose. mis-tāke', s. [MISTAKE, v.] tion; a misapprehension, a misunderstanding, a 1. An error of judgment or opinion; a misconcep blunder. "Rectify the mistakes of historians."-Ray: On the Creation, pt. i. 2. A fault, an error, a blunder; a wrong act done unintentionally. "A sentiment, in itself amiable and respectable, led him to commit the greatest mistake of his whole life.”—Macaulay: Hist. Eng., ch. xxiv. No mistake: Beyond all doubt or question; unquestionably, certainly, without fail. mis-tāk ́-en, a. [MISTAKE, v.] 1. Erroneous, incorrect. "The fallacious and mistaken reports of sense."-Souths Sermons, vol. ii., ser. 2. "Missuiting a great man most.' *mis-sure (sure as shur), s. [Latin missurus "The missure I send you."-Adams: Works, ii. 110. "Through misswaying it seem'd to decline." Edgeworth: Helen, ch. xxviii. mist, *myist, *myst, *myste, s. [A. S. mist= gloom, darkness; cogn. with. Icel. mistr=mist; Sw. mis-speak, mis-speake, *mis-peak, v. i. & t. mist=foggy weather; Dut. mist=fog; Ger. mist= dung.] 2. Laboring under a mistake or misconception; "She, mistaken, seems to dote on me." Shakesp.: Twelfth Night, ii. 2 To be mistaken: 1. To be misunderstood, misconceived, or mis judged. 2. To be in error; to make a mistake; to be under a misapprehension. "You are too much mistaken in this king.” Shakesp.: Hetry V., ii. 4. mis-tak-en-ly, adv. [Eng. mistaken; -ly.] By mistake; mistakingly. mis-tāk -ēr, s. [Eng. mistak(e); er.] One who makes a mistake; one who misunderstands. "The well-meaning ignorance of some mistakers.”— Bp. Hall: Apol. Advt. to the Reader. mis-tak-ing, s. [MISTAKE, v.] A mistake, an error, a blunder. father; wē, wět, here, camel, her, thêre; "Now, I perceive, thou art a reverend father; Pardon, I pray thee, for my mad mistaking. Shakesp.: Taming of the Shrew, iv. 5. sïre, sir, pine, pit, marîne; gō, pot, mistakingly mis-tāk -ing-ly, adv. [Eng. mistaking; -ly.] By mistake; mistakenly, erroneously. mis taught (aught as ât), pa. par. or a. [MISTEACH.] mis-teach', *mis-teche, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English teach (q. v.).] To teach wrongly; to give wrong instruction to. "More shame for those who have mistaught them."— Milton: Animad. on Remonstrant's Defence. mis-těll', v. t. Pref. mis-, and Eng. tell (q. v.).] 1. To tell wrongly or incorrectly; to misreport. 2. To miscount. "Their prayers are by the dozen, when if they mistell one, they thinke all the rest lost."-Breton: Strange News, P. 5. mis-těm -pěr, v. t. Pref. mis-, and Eng. temper, v. (q. v.)] To disorder, to disturb, to disease. "Nor husband's weale nor children's woe mistempered my ́head." Warner: Albion's England, bk. vii., ch. xxiv. mis-těm'-pered, a. [MISTEMPER, v.] 1. Disordered, diseased, irritated, ill-tempered. "This inundation of mistemper'd humor Rests by you only to be qualified." Shakesp.: King John, v. 1. 2. Badly tempered; tempered to a bad purpose or end. "Throw your mistempered weapons to the ground." Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet, i. 1. mis-ter (1), s. [The same word as master (q. v.).] Master, sir; the common form of address to an adult male. It is now always abbreviated in writing to the form Mr. *mis-ter (2), mis-tere, s. [O. Fr. mastier (Fr. métier), from Lat. ministerium a service; minister =a servant. Mister and ministry are thus doublets.] [MINISTER.] 1. A trade, an art, an occupation, an employment. "In youth he lerned hadde a good mistere, He was a wel good wright, a carpentere.' Chaucer: C. T., 615. " 2. Manner, kind, sort. "The redcross knight toward him crossed fast, To weet what mister wight was so dismay'd." Spenser: F. Q., I. ix. 23. mis-ter (3), s. [Etym., doubtful.] Need, necessity. (Scotch.) *mis-ter, *mis-tre, v. t. & i. [MISTER (2), s.] A. Trans.: To occasion loss to. B. Intrans.: To need, to be necessary, to boot. "As for my name it mistreth not to tell." Spenser: F. Q., III. vii. 51. mis-term', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English term (q. v.).] To term or designate erroneously; to miscall, to misname. "World's exile is death: then banished Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet, iii. 3. *mis-ter-ship, s. [Eng. mister (1); -ship.], The state or quality of being a mister (q. v.). (Shakesp.: Titus Andronicus, iv. 4.) mis-ter-y, mys'-tĕr-y, *mys-ter-ie, s. [Lat. ministerium.A trade, an occupation, a business. (MISTER (2), s.] "That which is the noblest mysterie Brings to reproach and common infamy." Spenser: Mother Hubberd's Tale. mist-ful, a. [Eng. mist; -ful(l).] Clouded or dimmed with tears, as with mist. "Here they are but felt, and seen with mistful eyes." Shakesp.: Pericles, i. 4. *mis-think', *mis-thinke, v. i. & t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. think (q. v.).] A. Intrans.: To think wrongly. "Whan they misthinke, they lightly let it passe." Chaucer: Court of Love. B. Trans.: To misjudge, to think ill of. "How will the country for these woful chances, Misthink the king and not be satisfied!" Shakesp.: Henry VI., Pt. III., iì. 5. *mis-thought (ought as ât), pa. par. or a. (MISTHINK.] *mis-thought (ought as ât), s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. thought, s. (q. v.)] Wrong thoughts or ideas; an erroneous notion; mistake. "Through error and misthought." Spenser: F. Q., IV. viii. 58. -mis-thrive', v. i. [Pref. mis-, and Eng, thrive (q. v.).] Not to thrive; to fare or succeed ill. mis-throw, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. throw, v. (q. v.)] To throw or cast wrongly. "Hast thou thyn eie ought misthrowe?" Gower: C. A., bk. i. mis'-ti-co, s. [Turk. mistigo. (Littré.)] Naut.: A small Mediterranean vessel, between a zebeca and a felucca. 2733 *mis-tide', v. i. [A. S. mistidan.] mistrust mis-trăns-late', *misse-trans-late, v. t. [Pref. 1. To betide ill or amiss; to turn out ill or mis-, and Eng. translate (q. v.).] To translate, to misrender. unfortunately. 2. To fare ill, to be unfortunate. "Atte laste he shal mishappe and mistide."-Chaucer: Tale of Melibeus. *mist -I-head, *mist-i-heed, s. [Eng. misty; head.] The state of being misty; mistiness. "What meaneth this, what is this mistiheed?" Chaucer: Complaint of Mars and Venus. mist -I-ly, adv. [Eng. misty; -ly.] In a misty manner; dimly, darkly, obscurely. mis-time', v. i. & t. [A. S. mistiman.] mistide. B. Trans.: To time wrongly; not to adapt or adjust the time to. mis-timed', a. [Pref. mis-, and English timed (q. v.)] Out of time or place; inappropriate; not suited to the time or occasion; as, a mistimed boast. mist -I-ness, 8. [English misty; -ness.] The quality or state of being misty; darkness, dimness, obscurity. "The very mistiness of the Prime Minister's own words."-London Standard. *mist -ion (i as y), s. [Lat. mixtio= a mixing, a mixture, from mixtus, pa. par. of mixeo to mix.] A mixture, a mixing, a blending together. "Both bodies do, by the new texture resulting from their mistion, produce color."-Boyle: On Colors. mis-ti-tle, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. title, v. (q. v.)] To call or designate by the wrong title or name. "That man's mistitled sorrow's heir." Combe: Dr. Syntax; Tour, i. 21. mis -tle (tle as el), s. [MISTLETOE.] Mistletoe. "If snowe do continue, sheepe hardly that fare Crave mistle and ivie for them for to spare." Tusser: Husbandry. miş'-tle (tle as el), v. i. [A frequent. from mist, v. (q. v.)] To mist, to mizzle, to drizzle. [MISLE, MIZZLE.] *mist-less, a. [Eng. mist, and less.] Free from mist. "Mistless as noon, and fresh as morning."-Miss Brontè: Villette, ch. xiv. mis -tle-tōe (tle as el), s. [A. S. misteltán; Icel. misteltein; Dut. mistelboom; Dan., Sw., Ger. mistel, from Ger. mist=manure, dirt, mist, fog; the element toe is believed by Skeat to be A. S. tan-a twig.] Bot.: Viscum album, a plant parasitic on the apple and other fruit trees, on the thorn, the oak, the poplar, the lime, the ash, &c. It sometimes kills the branch or even the tree on which it is a parasite. It occurs as a yellow-green glabrous pendent bush, one to four feet long, with the fibers of the roots insinuated into the wood of the tree on which it preys; its branches dichotomous, knotted; its leaves, one to three, glabrous; its flowers in threes, inconspicuous, green; its berries globose or ovoid, yellow, viscid. Found in the United States, also in Europe and the north of Asia. The United States mistletoe differs from that found in Europe in the fact that it has much broader leaves. Its botanical name is Phoradendron flavescens. In the Middle Ages the mistletoe was believed to be of use Bird-lime in epilepsy, a view since abandoned. (q.v.) is made from the berries. It was deemed sacred by the Druids, and still finds a large market in this country and England when preparation_is being made for Christmas festivities and sports (T). Kissing under the mistletoe: Scandinavian Mythol.: The wicked spirit, Loki, hated Balder, the favorite of the gods, and, making an arrow of mistletoe, gave it to Häder, the god of darkness and himself blind, to test. He shot the arrow and killed Balder. He was restored to life, and the mistletoe given to the goddess of love to keep, every one passing under it receiving a kiss as a proof that it was an emblem of love, and not of death. (Brewer.) mist-like, a. [English mist, and like.] Resembling a mist, like a mist. "The breath of heart-sick groans Mistlike infold me from the search of eyes." Shakesp.: Romeo and Juliet, iii. 3. mis-tōld', pa. par. or a. [MISTELL.] mis-took', pret. & pa. par. of v. [MISTAKE, v.] mis-tra-di-tion, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. tradition (q. v.).] Wrong tradition. mis-train', *mys-trayn, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. train, v. (q. v.)] To train wrongly or badly. mis -tral, s. [Prov. Fr. for mastral, from mastre a master.] A violent cold northwest wind experienced in the Mediterranean provinces of France, destroying fruit, blossoms, crops, &c. It blows most fiercely in the autumn, winter and early spring. "Eusebius by them mistranslated."-Bp. Hall: Honor of Married Clergy, bk. i., § 25. mis-trăns-la-tion, s. [Pref. mis-, and English translation (q. v.).] A false or incorrect transla tion; a misrendering. *mis-trans-pört-ěd, a. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. transported (q. v.).] Carried or borne away from one's self wrongly; misled by passion or strong feeling. mis-tread-ing, 8. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. treading (q. v.).] A wrong or false step, a sin, a fault, a misgoing; misbehavior. "For the hot vengeance and the rod of Heaven, Shakesp.: Henry IV., Pt. III., iii. 2. mis-treat', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English treat (q. v.).] To treat wrongly or ill; to ill-treat, to maltreat. mis-treat-ment, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. treatment (q. v.).] Wrong, improper, or unkind treatment; ill-treatment. mis-tress, *mais-tress, *mais-tresse, s. [Old Fr. maistresse; Fr. maîtresse, from maistre: Fr. maitre a master; Lat. magister; Sp. & Ital. maes tro; Port. mestre.] [MASTER, 8.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. A woman who governs; a woman who has power, authority, or command; the female head of an establishment, as a school, a family, &c. The correlative of servant or subject. "The maids officious round their mistress wait." Pope: Homer's Iliad, iii. 526. 2. A female owner. "I'll use thee kindly for thy mistress' sake." Shakesp.: Two Gentlemen of Verona, iv. 4. 3. A woman skilled in anything. 4. A woman courted and beloved; a sweetheart; a woman who has command over one's heart. "My mistress' brows are raven black." Shakesp.: Sonnet 127. 5. A concubine; a woman who fills the place but has not the rights of a wife. 6. A title of address applied to a married lady, nearly equivalent to madam. Formerly it was applied to married or unmarried women indiscriminately. It is now written in the abbreviated form Mrs. (pronounced mis is). "Mistress, 'tis well, your choice agrees with mine." Shakesp.: Pericles, ii. 5. II. Technically: 1. Eng. Law: The proper style of the wife of an esquire or of a gentleman. (Wharton.) 2. Bowls: The small ball used in the English game of bowls, now called the Jack. "So, so, rub on and kiss the mistress." Shakesp.: Troilus and Cressida, iii. 2. To be her own mistress: To be free from all restraint. *mistress-piece, s. A chief performance of a woman. Formed on analogy of master-piece (q. v.). mistress-ship, s. 1. The position of a mistress; rule or dominion. "If any of them shall usurp a mistress-ship over the rest, or make herself a queen over them."-Bp. Hall: Resolutions for Religion. *2. A style of address to ladies; ladyship. *mis'-tress, v. i. [MISTRESS, 8.] To wait or attend upon a mistress; to court." "Thy idleness; which yet thou canst not fly By dressing, mistressing, and compliment." Herbert: Church Porch. *mis -tress-ly, a. [Eng. mistress; -ly.] Pertain ing to the mistress of a household. "Will he take from me the mistressly management?"Richardson: Clarissa, i. 298. mis-tri-al, s. [Pref. mis-, and English trial (q, v.).] Law: A trial which from some defect in the process or the triers is erroneous or abortive; a false trial. *mis-trist', v. t. [MISTRUST, v.] *mis-trów -lng, tmis-trow-yng, 8. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. trowing (q. v.).] Mistrusting, distrust. mis-trust', s. (Pref. mis-, and English trust, s. (q. v.)] Distrust, suspicion, want of confidence or trust. "Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor." Shakesp.: As You Like It, i. 3. mis-trust', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. trust, v. (q. v.)] To feel distrust, suspicion, or doubt regarding; to doubt, to suspect, to distrust. "I am ever ready to mistrust a promising title."-Goldsmith: Bee, No 4. mistruster mis-trust -er, s. [Eng. mistrust; -er.] One who mistrusts or distrusts. mis-trust-fùl, a. [Eng. mistrust; -fulʼ(1).] Full of doubt, suspicion, or mistrust; diffident, suspicious, doubtful. "He, who most excels in fact of arms, Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair." Milton: P. L., ii. 126. mis-trust-fdl-1y, adv. [Eng. mistrustful; -ly.] In a distrustful, doubting, or suspicious manner; with mistrust. "Mistrustfully he trusteth, and he dreadingly did dare." Warner: Albion's England, bk. vi., ch. xxxiii. mis-trust-ful-ness, *mis-trust-ful-nesse, s. [Eng. mistrustful; -ness.] The quality or state of being mistrustful; doubt, suspicion, mistrust. "A punishemente for thy mistrustfulnesse at this present declared."-Udall: Luke i. *mis-trust'-ing, a. [Eng. mistrust; -ing.] Mistrustful, suspicious. mis-trust-ing-ly, adv. [Eng. mistrusting: -ly.] In a doubting or mistrustful manner; mistrustfully, suspiciously. mis-trust-less, a. [Eng. mistrust; -less.] Free from mistrust, suspicion, or doubt; unsuspicious. unsuspecting, trustful. mis-tryst, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English tryst (q. v.).] To disappoint by breaking an engagement; to deceive, to use ill. mis-tüne', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. tune, v. (q. v.)] 1. Lit.: To tune wrongly or incorrectly; to put, play, or sing out of tune. "Hymn mistuned and muttered prayer Scott: Lord of the Isles, v. 28. 2. Fig.: To disorder; to put out of order. "From the body, by long ails mistuned, Armstrong: The Art of Preserving Health, mis-tür'-a (pl. mis-tür ́-æ), s. [Lat.] 2734 *mis-üş'-ançe, s. [Eng. misus(e); -ance.] Misusage, misuse. "He had chafed at their misusance."-Hacket: Life of Williams, i. 202. mis-üşe', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English use, v. (q. v.)] 1. To use or treat improperly; to apply to a bad "He fell from good, misusing his free will." mis-use', s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. use, s. (q. v.)] 1. Improper use; misapplication; employment for a bad or improper purpose; abuse. "How much names taken for things are apt to mislead *2. Ill-treatment, cruel treatment, abuse. "And Darius coulde not bee otherwise persuaded but 2. Law: Abuse of any liberty or benefit which "An office either public or private may be perfected by misuser or abuse, as if a judge takes a bribe, or a park keeper kills deer without authority."-Blackstone: "Comment., bk. ii., ch. 10. mis-vǎl-ue, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. value, v. Pharm.: A mixture. There are a Mistura am- (q. v.).] To value wrongly or insufficiently; to moniaci, a Mistura camphora, and about ten others underrate; to estimate at too low a value. in the modern pharmacopoeia. mis-turn', *mis-tourne, *mys-turne, v. t. & i. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. turn, v. (q. v.)] A. Trans.: To turn wrongly; to prevent, to upset. B. Intrans.: To turn or go wrong; to be prevented. mis-tu-tor, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. tutor (q. v.).] To teach or instruct amiss. "Mistutored youths, who ne'er the charm mist - (1), a. [A. S. mistig, from mist=gloom.] 1. Lit.: Covered, obscured, or hidden with mist; characterized or accompanied by mist; overspread with mist. "The dripping rock, the mountain's misty top 2. Fig.: Obscure, clouded; difficult to understand; as, a misty writer. In the figurative use of this word there is no doubt a confusion with misty (2). mist - (2), *myst -ý, a. mystic (q. v.).] Mystic, dark. [Latin mysticus mis-un-der-stand, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. understand (q. v.).] Not to understand; to misconceive, to mistake, to misjudge, to misinterpret. "There is one part, however, of these papers, in which I conceive I have been misunderstood."-Observer, No. 152. mis-un-der-stånd -er, s. [Eng. misunderstand; -er.] One who misunderstands. "But divers and many texts as farre semed unto the misunderstanders to speake against purgatory."—Sir T. More: Works, p. 324. mis-un-der-stånd -ing, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. understanding (q. v.).] 1. A misconception, a misapprehension; a mistake of the meaning or intent. "Sometimes the misunderstanding of a word has scat tered and destroyed those who have been in possession of victory."-South: Sermons, vol. i., ser. 8. "But, for I am so yong, I dread my warke "And that very text or saying of Mutianus, which *mis-wan'-dễr, v. i. [Pref. mis-, and English wander (q. v.).] To wander or stray from the way; to go astray. "The miswandrynge errour, misledeth him into false goodes."-Chaucer: Boecius, bk. iii. *mis-way', *mis-waie, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. way (q. v.).] A wrong way. "Who so seeketh sothe by a deepe thought and coueiteth to been deceiued, by no miswaies."-Chaucer: Boecius, bk. iii. *mis-wear', v. i. [Pref. mis-, and English wear (q. v.).] To wear badly or ill. "That which is miswrought will miswear."--Bacon: To wed wrongly or improperly. *mis-ween', v. i. [Pref. mis-, and English ween to fall into error. "Full happie man (misweening much) was hee, 2. A falling out, a disagreement, a difference; as, a misunderstanding among friends. mis-un-der-stood', pret. & pa. par. [MISUNDER-ing.] STAND.] mis-u-ra-tō, adv. [Ital.] Music: In measured or strict time. "Fly the misuwoman, least she thee deceiue." *mis-wont-ing, s [Pref. mis-, and Eng. wont; *mis-word', s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. word (q.v.).] mis-üş'-age (age as ig), s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. A cross, wrong, or awkward word. usage (q. v.).] 1. Bad or improper use; bad conduct. "The fame of their misusage so prevented them, that the people of that place also, offended thereby, would bring in no wares."-Hackluyt; Voyages, ii. 21. 2. Ill-treatment, ill-usage. fate, făt, färe, amidst, what, fâll, mis-wor-ship, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. worship, s. (q. v.) Worship of a wrong object; false worship; idolatry. "In respect of misworship, he was the son of the first Jereboham, who made Israel to sin."-Bishop Hall: Contempl.; Joash with Elisha Dying. mite mis-wor'-ship, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng, wor ship, v. (q. v.)] To worship wrongly, falsely, or corruptly. "There have not wanted nations (and those not of the savagest) which have misworshiped it [the heaven] for their God."-Bishop Hall: The Soul's Farewell to Earth, §3. mis-wor-ship-ēr, s. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. worshiper (q.v.).] One who misworships; one who worships false gods. "God is made our idol, and we the misworshipers of him."-Bishop Hall: Sermon at Whitehall, Whitsunday, 1640. *mis-wrench, v. t. [Pref. mis-, and English "The wardes of the church keie Gower: C. A., V. "He did miswrite some number of years."-Raleigh: Hist. World, bk. ii., ch. xxii., § 6. mis-writ -ing, s. [MISWRITE.] A mistake in writing; a clerical error. "The text of the Chronicle has three years, but it seems clear that this must be a miswriting for thirteen." -E. A. Freeman: Old English Hist., ch. vii., p. 93. (Note.) mis-wrought' (ought as ât), a. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. wrought (q. v.).] Badly wrought, made, or fashioned. mi-şy, 8. [Ger. misy, from Gr. misy=vitriolic earth. Min.: The same as COPIAPITE and JAROSITE (q. v.). mis-yōke', v. t. [Pref. mis-, and Eng. yoke, v. (q. v.)] To yoke or join improperly. "By misyoking with a diversity of nature as well as of religion."-Milton: Doctrine of Divorce, bk. ii., ch. xix. (q.v.).] Actuated by false or mistaken zeal. *mis-zeal-ous, a. [Pref. mis-, and Eng, zealous "Go on now, ye miszealous spirits.”—Bp. Hall: Noah's Dove. *mit -aine, s. [Fr.] A mitten, a glove. manchet. "He that hath mitches tweine."-Romaunt of the Rose. mitch'-ell, s. [Prob. from some proper name.] teen to twenty-four inches square, used in building. Build.: A piece of hewn Purbeck stone, from fifmit-chěl-lạ, s. [Named after John Mitchell, an Irishman, who wrote on Virginian plants.] Bot. A genus of Cinchonacea, family Guettardidæ. It has a funnel-shaped corolla with a fourlobed limb and a four-lobed ovary, and succulent fruit with four or eight stones. Mitchella repens is the plant most extensively spread in North America, covering the surface from lat. 28° to lat. 69° N. mite (1), s. [A. S. mite; cogn, with Low Ger. mite a mite; O. H. Ger. miza=a mite, a midge.] I. Ordinary Language: 1. In the same sense as II. 1 or 2. 2. The name is improperly given to Dust-lice of the insect genus Psocus (q. v.). II. Zoology: 1. Sing. The genus Acarus (q. v.). (1) The family Acarida (q. v.). The abdomen, in which segments are indiscernible, is united with the cephalothorax, so as to form a single mass. Respiration is by traches. When perfect, mites have eight legs. They are generally very small. Many are parasites upon animals; some occur in old cheese, in flour, under the bark of trees, &c. "That cheese of itself breeds mites or maggots, I deny." -Ray: On the Creation, pt. ii. mite (2), *myte, s. [O. Dut. mijt, mite, myte=a small coin; from the same root as minute, a. (q. v.)] 1. The smallest coin; a coin formerly current, and equal to about one-third of a farthing. "I'll show you those in troubles reign Losing a mite, a mountain gain." Shakesp.: Pericles, ii. (Gower.) 2. A small weight, equal to about the twentieth of a grain. 3. Anything very small or minute; a very small particle or quantity. "The ants thrust in their stings, and instil into them a small mite of their stinging liquor, which hath the same effect as oil of vitriol."-Ray: On the Creation. father; wē, wět, here, camel, her, thêre; pine, pit, sïre, sir, marîne; gỗ, pot, |