mischiefn.

Brit.

/ˈmɪstʃᵻf/, U.S.

/ˈmɪstʃᵻf/

Forms: Middle English mechef, Middle English meschef, Middle English meschief, Middle English–1500s myschef, Middle English–1500s myscheyf, Middle English–1500s myschief, Middle English–1500s myschiefe, Middle English–1500s myschyfe, Middle English–1600s mischeefe, Middle English–1600s mischefe, Middle English–1600s mischife, Middle English–1800s mischeif, Middle English–1800s myschefe, Middle English– mischief, 1500s–1800s mischiefe; English regional 1800s– mirschey (south-western), 1800s– mirschy (south-western), 1800s– mischeef (northern), 1800s– mischieve (northern), 1800s– mischty (south-western), 1800s– mischy (south-western), 1900s– mishtiff (west midlands). Plural Middle English myschefis, Middle English–1500s myscheffes, Middle English–1500s myscheues, Middle English–1500s myscheuys, Middle English–1500s myschieves, Middle English–1600s mischefes, Middle English– mischiefs, 1500s mischeffis, 1500s–1600s mischiefes, 1500s–1600s mischieves, 1600s misscheifes, 1600s myscheives. See also note below.

Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French meschief.

Etymology: < Anglo-Norman meschief, meschef, meschefe, meschieff, myschief, mescheve and Middle French meschief misfortune, trouble, hardship, mischief, wrong, damage (late 12th cent. in Old French; also in form miscief in Old French; French méchef ), either < mes- mis- prefix² + chef chief n. (in sense ‘end, extremity’), or < meschever (see mischieve v.). Compare Old Occitan mescap , mescab , meschap damage, loss, harm (12th cent.); also Spanish menoscabo (1246), Catalan menyscab (1295), although compare discussion s.v. mis- prefix².Note on forms: only a selection of the commoner forms is given above. For variation in the first syllable see mis- prefix¹. In the second syllable ey , i , y , and ye are attested ME–15, e , ee , and ei ME–16, and ie ME–. Pre-17 Scottish forms have: e , ee , ei , ey , i , and ie . Forms without s in the medial consonant cluster are attested ME–16, and likewise forms with this cluster simplified (variously -ch- , -sh- , -sc- , -ssh- ). A form michsyfe , perhaps suggesting a metathesized pronunciation, occurs rarely in 16. For the final consonant f is attested ME–, ff ME–16, u and v ME–15 (16 in plural), and p ME; pre-17 Scottish forms also have (rarely) w . Final -e is attested ME–17. English regional forms (south-western) mischty , mischy , mirschey , mirschy , and (northern) mischeef , mischieve are attested 18–. Metrical evidence from the 16th cent. onwards shows occasional instances of stress apparently falling on the second syllable. When this occurs at line endings, rhymes with grief , relief , etc., suggest that the vowel of the final syllable was also lengthened. Pronunciations of this type, probably originating as spelling-pronunciations motivated in part by perception of the word's composite nature (compare the note s.v. mis- prefix²), persist in modern British usage in the nonstandard English regional (northern) variant /ˈmɪstʃiːf/.

†I. Misfortune, bad luck.

a. As a count noun: a misfortune, a calamity. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck > instance of misfortune or ill-luck

unsitheOE

evila1300

mischiefa1325

illa1340

adversity1340

infortunea1393

infortunity1477

cladec1480

misfortunec1485

fortune1490

trouble?1521

stumble1547

infelicity1575

disgrace1622

unfortunacya1662

disgracia1740

miscanter1781

reversal1846

avalanche1850

rough spin1919

a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vi. 22 For þe grete meschefs, damages ant deseritesoun þat men of þe reaume ant of Yngelonde habbez iheued ar þis time.

a1400 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 204 (MED) Þenk..how God haþ savyd þe fro deeþ and oþer miscevis.

c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 708 (MED) Luf-lowe hem bytwene lasched so hote Þat alle þe meschefez on mold moȝt hit not sleke.

a1425 (?c1375) N. Homily Legendary (Harl.) in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 4 For pete..Of þe grete mescheuys of man-kynde.

1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) vi. 25 Alle the meseases & the myschiefs that the peple of our lord endured that tyme.

1547 in A. I. Cameron Sc. Corr. Mary of Lorraine (1927) 186 Swa I to remane as ane plege quhilk war to me ane myscheif and dishonour.

1633 J. Ford 'Tis Pitty shee's Whore ii. sig. D4 ^v Thou art a man remark't to tast a mischiefe.

c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 15 The inconveniences and mischeiffis that will havellie fall vpone vs.

1781 W. Cowper Charity 282 Shipwreck..fire, and flood, Are mighty mischiefs.

1827 J. Hogg Tales 185 I'm amaist fleyed out o' my wits among a' ither mischiefs.

b. Evil plight or condition; ill-fortune; trouble, distress. Also (in early use): need, want, poverty. Obsolete.Phrase at (great, etc.) mischief at Phrases 1a.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > possession > poverty > [noun]

waedlec888

wanspeedc893

wanea1100

wandrethc1175

miseasea1200

povertya1225

lowness?c1225

needc1225

orcostc1225

poorness?a1300

unwealtha1300

defaultc1300

porailc1325

straitnessa1340

poorhead1340

mischiefa1375

miseasetya1382

needinessa1382

misterc1385

indigencec1386

scarcitya1387

noughtc1400

scantnessc1400

necessity?1406

penurya1425

povertnessa1434

exilitya1439

wantc1450

scarcenessc1475

needinga1500

povertiesa1500

penurity?a1505

poortith?a1513

debility1525

tenuity1535

leanness1550

lack1555

Needham1577

inopy1581

pinching1587

dispurveyance1590

egency1600

macritude1623

penuriousness1630

indigency1631

needihood1648

necessitousness1650

egestuosity1656

straitened circumstancesa1766

unopulence1796

Queer Street1811

lowliness1834

breadlessness1860

unwealthiness1886

out-of-elbowness1890

secondary poverty1901

Short Street1920

the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction

teeneOE

harmOE

sourc1000

trayOE

angec1175

wosithc1200

ail?c1225

barrat?c1225

misease?c1225

passion?c1225

troublec1230

sorenessc1275

grievancea1300

cumbermentc1300

cumbering1303

thro1303

angera1325

strifea1325

sweama1325

encumbrancec1330

tribulationc1330

threst1340

mischiefa1375

pressc1375

unhend1377

miseasetya1382

angernessc1390

molestc1390

troublancec1400

notea1425

miseasenessc1450

cumber?a1513

tribule1513

unseasonableness?1523

troublesomeness1561

tribulance1575

tine1590

trials and tribulations1591

pressure1648

difficulty1667

hell to pay1758

dree1791

trial and tribulation1792

Queer Street1811

Sturm und Drang1857

a thin time1924

shit1929

crap1932

shtook1936

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 5131 (MED) Be merciabul to alle men þat in mechef arn.

c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 493 He ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder, In sikness nor in meschief to visite The ferrest in his parisshe.

c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 133 In Mischef and in bonchef boþe.

a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20050 (MED) Womman sal peris o na barn, Ne nan wit mischiue be forfarn.

?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 191 Þat no man..ȝeue him..nouther of mete ne of drynk, And so schall he dye in myschef.

1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 424/2 They bee nowe in grete myschief and necessite.

1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xii. 12 The kyng and the yong Spencer, seyng theym selfe thus beseged in thir myschiefe, and knewe no Comfort that myght come to them.

1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius v. sig. O2^v O breast where death (Oh mischief) [Fr. hà mechef] comes to choake vp vitall breath.

?a1610 A. Montgomerie Poems (1887) 130 Hir mirrines with missheif ay is mixt.

1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. i. sig. B1^v Hee arriues not at the mischiefe of being wise.

1679 W. Penn Addr. Protestants (1692) i. 55 Alas! we are not the same; that's our Mis-chief.

1803 A. Boswell Songs 3 I should wish mischief on ye for't, But canna wish ought ill to you.

II. Harm, injury, or evil done to or suffered by a person, etc.

a. Harm or evil considered as attributable to a particular agent or cause. Frequently to do mischief and variants (esp. in early use).

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun]

burstc1000

harmOE

scatheOE

teenOE

evil healc1175

waningc1175

hurt?c1225

quede?c1225

balec1275

damage1300

follyc1300

grill13..

ungain13..

torferc1325

eviltyc1330

wem1338

impairment1340

marring1357

unhend1377

sorrowc1380

pairingc1384

pairmentc1384

mischiefc1385

offencec1385

appairment1388

hindering1390

noyinga1398

bresta1400

envya1400

wemminga1400

gremec1400

wilc1400

blemishing1413

lesion?a1425

nocument?a1425

injuryc1430

mischieving1432

hindrance1436

detrimenta1440

ill1470

untroth1470

diversity1484

remordc1485

unhappinessc1485

grudge1491

wriguldy-wrag?1520

danger1530

dishort1535

perishment1540

wreaka1542

emperishment1545

impeachment1548

indemnity1556

impair1568

spoil1572

impeach1575

interestc1575

emblemishing1583

mishap1587

endamagement1593

blemishment1596

mischievance1600

damnificationa1631

oblesion1656

mishanter1754

vitiation1802

mar1876

jeel1887

c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1326 I se a serpent or a theef, That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef, Goon at his large.

c1500 Lyfe Roberte Deuyll 724 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 247 Greate myscheyf haue I do, and muche yll; As to robbe and slea.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lv. 3 They are mynded to do me some myschefe, so maliciously are they set agaynst me.

1542 H. Brinkelow Lamentacion sig. Dviii Ye haue..done most myschefe in shoting vp of Godes worde from the people.

1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 237 If thou followe mee, do not beleeue, But I shall doe thee mischiefe, in the wood.

1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vi. 47 They..who had contrived the mischief.

1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. iii. 74 The Devil is seldom out of call when he is wanted for any Mischief.

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. x. 296 It was hardly possible two such damned rascals should colleague together without mischief to honest people.

1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art ii. 136 It is quite wonderful how much mischief may be done even by small capacity.

1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree I. ii. v. 186 Bless ye, my sonnies! 'tisn't the pa'son's move at all. That gentleman over there..is at the root of the mischief.

1890 S. S. Buckman John Darke's Sojourn in Cotteswolds xvi. 150 Er's harmless enow when he comes yereby, er 'oodn't do none mischy.

1909 Dundee Advertiser 24 Feb. 6/2 To advance purblindly upon the problem..is to intensify the mischief.

1975 A. MacLeish Let. 11 Mar. (1983) 437 Your generation is going to have to undo the mischief.

b. An injury inflicted by a person or other agent; an offence committed by a person; an evil arising out of or existing in certain conditions.Now chiefly in to do (a person, oneself) a mischief at Phrases 1b.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > action > instance of

scathe-deedc1275

scathe-workc1275

wrake13..

mischief?1418

incommodityc1450

wramp1669

to go in a perisher1864

to do oneself a bit of no good1914

?1418–19 Guildhall Let.-bk. in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 97 (MED) The Cite of London hatht had..gret Mischiefs, sclaundres, and harmes thorugh the gret disceyt and falsnesse of Brokours.

1530 W. Tyndale Pract. Prelates sig. Cvij If any resisted them what so euer mischeuen they went about.

1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 59^v Of two mischiefes the least is to be chosen.

1593 Queen Elizabeth I tr. Boethius De Consolatione Philosophiæ in Queen Elizabeth's Englishings (1899) i. pr. v. 15 Of mischefz or fraudes of thy slaunderers [L. sceleribus fraudibusque delatorum].

1611 Bible (King James) Psalms lii. 2 Thy tongue deuiseth mischiefes .

1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely i. 50 The Turks..would not fail to work them 1000 mischiefs by means of the new Garrison of Newhaussel.

1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. i. 18 I..made three Huzza's to shew I had got no Mischief by my Fall.

1775 E. Burke Speech Amer. Taxation 30 Infinite mischiefs would be the consequence of such a power.

a1862 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. (1869) III. ii. 47 General mischiefs depend upon general causes.

1871 S. Smiles Character ii. 58 The social mischiefs resulting from a neglect of the purifying influence of women.

1878 H. Bessemer Autobiogr. (1905) ii. 25 I began to consider if some new sort of stamp could be devised to prevent so serious a mischief.

a1993 Lothian Council Documents (BNC) (heading) React to change in trading practices identifying mischiefs and potential remedies.

†3. Originally: a disease or ailment; sickness. Later (chiefly Medicine): a pathological condition or process. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun]

soreOE

cothec1000

sicknessc1000

evilc1275

maladyc1275

grievance1377

passiona1382

infirmityc1384

mischiefa1387

affectiona1398

grievinga1398

grief1398

sicka1400

case?a1425

plaguec1425

diseasea1475

alteration1533

craze1534

uncome1538

impediment1542

affliction?1555

ailment1606

disaster1614

garget1615

morbus1630

ail1648

disaffect1683

disorder1690

illness1692

trouble1726

complaint1727

skookum1838

claim1898

itis1909

bug1918

wog1925

crud1932

bot1937

lurgy1947

Korean haemorrhagic fever1951

nadger1956

the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] > morbid condition

infectiona1398

morbosity1646

morbidness1668

diseasiness1674

morbidity1721

mischief1843

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 119 (MED) His brest roted wiþ ynne..a phisician seide hym in þis meschif was Goddes wreþþe.

a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 698 (MED) Many yvels, angers, and mescheefes..comes..Als fevyr, dropsy..and other maladys.

c1450 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Durh.) iii. 724 All the worlde shall comforte fynde..Ande soueraine helthe in euery myscheve fele.

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Myschiefe beynge close or secrete, vlcus.

1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. iii. 12 To apply a morall medicine, to a mortifying mischiefe .

1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xvii. xxiv. 539 The running mange or tettar, is a mischeefe peculiar unto the Fig tree.

1681 N. Grew Musæum Regalis Societatis (1694) iv. i. 555 [Dr. Castle] who did thereupon suffer such extreme pains, and mischief in his Eyes, that he now dispairs of ever seeing more.

1790 P. Pott Chirurg. Observ. (rev. ed.) I. 135 The extent and degree of the mischief is beyond all doubt.

1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. ix. 98 Traces of inflammatory mischief.

1860 F. Winslow Obscure Dis. Brain & Mind 12 The mischief established within the cranium, disorganizing the delicate tissue of the brain.

1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 130 When the mischief is confined to the lung.

4. Law.

a. A wrong suffered by a particular individual or individuals under a law, regarded as an alternative to the injury to the general public good which would otherwise ensue. Also: such wrongs collectively. Cf. inconvenience n. 3c. Now historical.

ΘΚΠ

society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > [noun] > judgement or decision of court > a just judgement > individually unjust but generally good

mischief1509

1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) x. 36 To dysnull myschefe and inconvenyence, They made our lawes wyth grete diligence.

1530 St. German's Secunde Dyaloge Doctour & Student xlvi. f. cxxi The lawe wyll rather suffre that myschyefe then the sayd inconuenyence.

a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 15 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) True Iustice punisheth nothing but the evill act or wicked word, that by the Lawes of all Kingdomes it is a capitall cryme to devise or purpose the death of your King... And therefore the Law in that case punisheth the thought, for better is a mischiefe, then an inconvenience.

1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 161 It is better to suffer a mischiefe than an inconuenience; the mischiefe being attributed to one or some particular persons, and the inconuenience to the whole Common-wealth in generall.

1670 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 121 Better a mischief, then an inconvenience. That is, better a present mischief that is soon over, then a constant grief and disturbance.

a1710 R. Atkyns Parl. & Polit. Tracts (1734) 199 By a Mischief is meant, when one Man or some few men suffer by the Hardship of a Law, which Law is yet useful for the Publick. But an Inconvenience is to have a publick Law disobeyed or broken, or an Offence to go unpunished.

1804 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry II. ii. iii. 134 It is better to bear an individual mischief, than a public inconvenience. This is a maxim of the common law.

1993 Speculum 68 748 The concept of mischief invokes the authority of reason in stressing the avoidance of injustice to an individual.

b. More generally: a disability or wrong which a person suffers, esp. one which it is the object of a statute to remove or for which equity affords a remedy.Occasionally in †to be at a mischief (obsolete).

ΘΚΠ

society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > invasion of another's rights, tort, or damage > condition of suffering a wrong

mischiefa1626

a1626 F. Bacon Elements Common Lawes (1630) 48 Hee tooke his graunt subiect to that mischiefe at first.

a1626 F. Bacon Elements Common Lawes (1630) 26 Pleadings must be certain, because the aduerse party may know wherto to answer, or else he were at a mischief, which mischiefe is remedied by a demurrer.

a1634 E. Coke 2nd Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. (1642) 124 The mischiefe before this Act was, That in a Writ of Dower, Unde nihil habet, there were dayes of common retourn..which was mischievous to the woman, in respect of the long delay.

1766 B. Franklin Let. 28 Apr. in Wks. (1887) III. 463 I congratulate you on the repeal of that mother of mischiefs, the Stamp Act.

1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. ii. 19 Every scheme..hath been hitherto found to be..productive of more mischiefs than it would remedy.

1793 N. Chipman Rep. & Diss. ii. 164 C..having notice of B's previous purchase, was not within the mischief, and, therefore, not within the equity of the remedy.

1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) IV. 524 If the adhering to such determinations is likely to be attended with inconvenience, it is a matter fit to be remedied by the legislature; which is able to prevent the mischief in future.

1885 Law Times Rep. (N.S.) 52 319/2 Criminal informations are within the mischief intended to be guarded against.

1993 J. Cooke Law of Tort (BNC) 145 A breach of a statutory requirement constitutes negligence where the statute was passed to prevent a mischief in respect of which the defendant was already under a duty at common law.

III. Harmful action, etc.; a source of this.

†5. Evildoing, wickedness. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [noun]

woughc888

naughteOE

manOE

evilness1000

fakenOE

witherfulnessc1200

lithera1225

villainy?c1225

lithernessa1240

unwrastshipa1250

felonyc1290

shrewheadc1290

litherhead1297

illa1300

wicknessa1300

follyc1300

iniquity13..

shrewdom13..

wickhedec1305

shrewdheadc1315

shrewdnessc1315

unwrastnessc1315

wickednessa1340

malicea1382

unequityc1384

lewdnessa1387

mischiefa1387

wickedleka1400

wickedredea1400

badnessc1400

shrewdshipc1400

shrewnessc1425

ungoodlihead1430

wickdomc1440

rudenessc1451

mauvasty1474

unkindliness1488

noughtinessa1500

perversenessa1500

illnessc1500

filthiness?1504

noisomeness1506

naughtiness?1529

noughtihoodc1540

inexcellence1590

improbity1593

flagition1598

meschancy1609

scelerateness1613

pravity1620

meschantnessa1630

flagitiousness1692

flagitiosity1727

nefariousness1727

bale-fire1855

ill-conditionedness1866

iniquitousness1870

society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > evildoing or wrongdoing > [noun]

sinc825

naughteOE

unnuteOE

sinningc1000

unrightOE

un-i-selthlOE

wonder1154

misguiltc1200

misdoinga1225

teeninga1225

miss?c1225

crimec1250

misdeed?c1250

wickednessa1300

mischiefa1387

evil-doing1398

mistakinga1400

perpetrationc1429

wrongingc1449

maledictionc1475

maleficence1533

wicked-doing1535

foul play1546

misdealing1571

flagition1598

delinquency1603

malefaction1604

meschancy1609

malefacture1635

misacting1651

guilt1726

flagitiosity1727

malpractice1739

malfeasance1856

peccation1861

miscreance1972

a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 345 Þanne he fille into greet mescheef þat he hired an Hebrewe wicche and forsook Crist.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 497 By thy myschyff and thy vengeaunce thou haste destroyed that moste noble knyght.

1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. vi. B Y^e earth was corrupte in y^e sight of God, and full of myschefe.

1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 161 With a plumpe he fercelie fallis in al kynde of mischeife [L. in omnia flagitiorum & turpitudinum genera].

1611 Bible (King James) Acts xiii. 10 O full of all subtilty and all mischiefe .

a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 1468 The mother of mischeif is na mair nor a midgewing.

1770 R. Cumberland Brothers iv. ii. 47 Andrew, you are as false as a quick-sand; and as full of mischief as a fire-ship.

1886 R. L. Stevenson Strange Case Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde 8 There was something about the lot of us that meant mischief, and at last he struck.

6. A cause or source of harm or evil; spec. a person whose conduct or influence is harmful or mischievous. Now usually in weakened sense: a person (esp. a child) who causes petty annoyance or acts in a naughty or vexatious manner.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > a harmful thing or person

appairer1382

malisona1525

deformer1562

annoyer1577

scathe1579

harmer1583

mischief1586

allayer1615

crippler1648

devilifier1793

vitiator1846

deterioratora1856

flivver1915

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > a harmful thing or person > pestilential

starveOE

starvec1225

plaguea1450

pestilenta1530

mischief1586

nuisancer1769

Typhoid Mary1913

menace1936

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > mischievous person > [noun]

wait-scathe1481

wag-pastya1556

mischief1586

rogue1593

devil1600

villain1609

fiend1621

imp1633

sprite1684

torment1785

scapegrace1809

bad hat1877

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmfully mischievous person > [noun]

disturberc1290

troublera1382

distroublerc1440

disturblerc1440

boutefeu?1584

mischief1586

breed-bate1593

trouble-feast1603

flight-head1605

trouble-rest1605

trouble-house1608

trouble-cupa1610

trouble-state1609

seek-trouble1611

fling-brand1616

trouble-town1619

blow-coal1622

trouble-world1663

mischief-maker1675

fire-sprit1847

firebug1869

ratbag1890

disturbant1894

mixer1938

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmful mischief > [noun] > cause of

mischief1586

bosom-mischiefa1662

1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. F1 Hee was called..the Plague of a common weale, the Mischiefe of men.

1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor v. iii. sig. Piii^v O my good Mischiefe, art thou come?

1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xvi. 12) 132 Mahomet, the mischiefe of mankinde.

1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 174 One of the jarrs of water broke, which was a great mischiefe to them, and a very important losse.

1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1039 The contrary she proves, a thorn Intestin, far within defensive arms A cleaving mischief .

a1704 T. Brown Satyr against Woman in Wks. (1707) I. i. 82 Thy Sex are all Pandora's; Mischiefs all.

1709 S. Centlivre Busie Body iv. iv. 56 B'ye, b'ye, Dear'e. Ah, Mischief, how you look now! B'ye, b'ye.

1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 302 The sacred implement I now employ Might prove a mischief, or at best a toy.

1816 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto III xlix. 27 Many a tower for some fair mischief won.

1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Mischief, a vexatious or ill-deedie person; as, ‘Ye're a perfect mischief’.

1890 Spectator 5 July Unionists such as Mr. Caine..are positive mischiefs to the party.

1891 ‘J. Evelyn’ Baffled Vengeance 191 A curly-headed mischief known by the name of Jimmy.

1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxvi. 295 She was a dreadful mischief when she was a girl and was always getting into scrapes.

1947 L. Lenski Judy's Journey iii. 41 She's an' old mischief, I can see that.

1999 Gloucestershire Echo (Nexis) 25 Oct. 12 He was sitting there playing with the toilet roll. He's a little mischief.

7. Hurtful or harmful character, influence, or intent. Now rare.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > quality

loathnessc1175

grievousness1303

malicea1382

noyfulnessa1398

mischievousness1567

harmfulnessa1586

balefulness1590

illnessc1595

hurt1608

hurtfulness1611

mischief1646

noxiousness1655

deleteriousness1758

maleficence1796

vice1837

bale-fire1855

disutility1879

nocuousness1894

disvalue1925

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > [noun]

mischievousness1567

mischief1646

1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. v. §2. 84 The conceit [that glass is poison] is surely grounded upon the visible mischiefe of glasse grossely or coursely powdered; for that indeed is mortally noxious.

1779 B. Franklin Let. 3 Feb. in Papers (1990) XVIII. 461 A Mist before your Eyes, which hindred you from seeing the Malignity, and Mischief of it [sc. a proposition].

1803 R. Hall Sentiments Present Crisis 45 The innocence of the intention abates nothing of the mischief of the precedent.

1822 J. M. Good Study Med. IV. 78 This is a disorder of far greater mischief and violence than the preceding.

1957 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Oct. 607/2 The work of Chancellor Maupeou was undone..and what was no better than an aristocratic form of Poujadism grew in power of mischief.

8. Vexatious or annoying action or behaviour; esp. childish or irresponsible behaviour which is troublesome but not malicious. Also: a tendency to or inclination for such conduct; high-spirited or playful naughtiness.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > mischievous action > [noun]

mischief1785

1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 207 Childish in mischief only and in noise.

1820 W. Irving Legend Sleepy Hollow in Sketch Bk. vi. 77 He was always ready for either a fight or a frolick; had more mischief than ill-will in his composition.

1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. viii. 118 The midshipmen are..full of fun and frolic. I'll bet a wager there'll be a bobbery in the pig-sty before long, for they are ripe for mischief.

1895 T. Hardy Jude i. ii. 9 Just now he's a-scaring of birds for Farmer Troutham. It keeps un out of mischty.

1908 E. F. Benson Climber 154 Lucia looked at him a moment, mischief dancing in her eyes.

1958 Times 14 Aug. 9/4 A wagon-load of monkeys is, as everyone knows, a conveyance filled to the brim with a superabundance of high spirits, artfulness, and mischief.

1990 N. Payne Grenadian Childhood 24 He was always up to mischief, bringing spiders, lizards, and so on, to class.

Phrases

P1.

†a. at (great, etc.) mischief [compare Old French, Middle French a meschief, a grant meschief (late 12th cent.)] : in (great) misfortune or poverty; in distress; spec. at a disadvantage in battle. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > in an evil plight

at (great, etc.) mischiefa1375

on the ragged edge1874

(down) on one's uppers1886

a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1362 (MED) Told þei hire..at how miche meschef here men were.

?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 9716 Þei wer at mischefe, for to scape þam were lefe.

a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) viii. 560 (MED) Thou deiest in prisoun at myscheef as a wrechche.

a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 595 Yet at my myscheffe sir Trystram rescowed me fro my deth.

1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 604 The erll and his thus fechtand war At gret myscheiff.

a1561 G. Cavendish Metrical Visions (1980) 1034 By Cruell ffortune, at myschefe she endyd.

1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 206 Of lait I saw thir lymmaris stand Lyke mad men at mischeif.

1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Sept. 10 Or bene they chaffred? or at mischiefe dead? [gloss, an vnusuall speache, but much vsurped of Lidgate, and sometime of Chaucer].

1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii. 68 Nor, if at Mischief taken, on the Ground Be slain, but Pris'ners to the Pillar bound [etc.].

b. to do (a person, oneself) a mischief: to injure or harm (a person).

ΚΠ

c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 2331 This false thef Hath don this lady yit a more myschef.

1684 W. Aspin Envious Man's Char. 24 An envious man takes his advantage of doing us a mischief when we are least aware of him.

1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 223 The captain was mainly wroth, and would certainly have done him a mischief.

1898 T. Watts-Dunton Aylwin iii. i She's got the real witch's eye, and can do you a mischief in a twink, if she likes.

1992 Pract. Householder Nov. 55/1 Among people who had an accident while ‘doing-it-themselves’, most did themselves a mischief by..cutting or pinching a part of their anatomy.

P2.

†a. In imprecations, as a mischief on ——!, a mischief take ——!, etc. Obsolete.

ΚΠ

c1475 Mankind (1969) 730 (MED) A myscheff go wyth!

?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. Bv A myschyfe on it.

a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Eiiii^v God gyue hym a myscheffe.

a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iv. iii. sig. F.iij^v A mischiefe take his tokens.

a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) ii. 2480 It is Sedicyon. God gyue hym a very myschiefe!

1616 B. Jonson Epicœne ii. iv, in Wks. I. 545 Did not I tell you? mischiefe !

1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love iv. 71 And a mischief of all foolish disguisements for my part.

1790 J. P. Kemble Love in Many Masks iii. i. 28 A mischief on thee for putting her into my thoughts.

1855 Littell's Living Age 9 June 632/1 I thought of my mother!—of her strong love for me—and a mischief on me—of her many proofs I'd be daily receiving of it.

†b. with a mischief: (a) used as an expletive, esp. parenthetically in questions, as what with a mischief——? (also what a mischief——?); (b) with a vengeance. Obsolete.

ΘΚΠ

the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > extremely

like mada1375

with a mischief1538

(as) — as anything1542

with a vengeance1568

with a siserary1607

(to be pleased) to a feathera1616

in (the) extremea1616

with the vengeance1693

to a degree1740

like hell1776

like the devil1791

like winky1830

like billy-o1885

(like) seven shades of ——1919

like a bandit1943

on wheels1943

1538 T. Elyot Dict. Addicion at Abi in malam rem Go hens with a mischefe.

1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus (at cited word) Malus, Quid tua (malum) id refert? what, with a mischiefe, haste thou to doe with it?

1572 T. Smith Let. 11 Dec. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. IV. 8 What a mischeefe meanethe hee to write unto mee of new Starres and Astronomers, and telleth me nothinge of my comeing home?

1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Chemise Hee raised them with a mischiefe, roused them with a vengeance.

1630 J. Taylor Wks. ii. 96/2 The matronly medicines..of this..woman, will in a little time make her encrease with a vengeance, and multiply with a mischiefe.

1640 T. Nabbes Bride iii. ii Y'are welcome with a mischiefe to the occasion that brought you hither.

1822 W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel III. iii. 85 Bide doun, with a mischief to ye.

1849 tr. F. Sacchritti in U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Apr. 315 M. Valore turned to him and exclaimed: ‘Go with a mischief [It. malanno]. Who the devil is this boy?’

c. euphemistic. The Devil. In phrases and questions, as to play the mischief (with), to go to the mischief, like the mischief, what (also how, etc.) the (or a) mischief——?, etc. Now colloquial and regional.

ΚΠ

1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 81 Why, Gods mother..doest thou aske me how I gotte in, nay tel me rather in the mischief how I shal gette out.

1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 283 What the mischiefe is this that thou hast for thy sadelle?

a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) v. sig. I2 Ith name of mischiefe what did you meane.

1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre i. v. 10 in Wks. II What, the mischiefe, doe you come with her? or shee with you?

1722 J. Swift in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 5 I wonder how a mischief you came to miss us.

1780 J. O'Keeffe Tony Lumpkin in Town ii. 21 What the mischief could bring his boots into my lady's dressing-room?

1807 Salmagundi 18 Apr. 147 This unlucky characteristic played the mischief with him in one of his love affairs.

1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage I. xv. 202 Boys may go to the mischief, and be good for something.

1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. ii. 28 Her large eyes would sparkle—so the men ‘allowed’—like the mischief.

a1849 J. Keegan Legends & Poems (1907) 489 Dandy Delaney and his family grew rich all at once. People..wondered how the mischief he grew so ‘unbeholden’ in a moment.

1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate III. ix. 239 Why the mischief should he not set about the work at once?

1892 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads 24 You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been?

1907 J. M. Synge Lett. to Molly (1971) 123 I am coughing away like the mischief today.

1923 E. Phillpotts Cherry-stones 67 What the mischief we creates But trouble, taxes, higher rates, Be damned to us if I can see.

1981 L. A. Pederson et al. Ling. Atlas Gulf States 0177/092 [Georgia] You've got to work like the mischief.

†d. words of mischief: abusive language, abuse. Cf. mischieve v. 4. Obsolete. rare.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > [noun]

balec1220

ordurec1390

revile1439

brawlingc1440

railing1466

opprobry?a1475

revilingc1475

vituperation1481

vituper1484

vitupery1489

convicy1526

abusion?1530

blasphemation1533

pelta1540

oblatration?1552

words of mischief1555

abuse1559

inveighing1568

invection1590

revilement1590

invective1602

opprobration1623

invecture1633

thunder and lightning1638

raillery1669

rattlinga1677

blackguarding1742

pillory1770

slang1805

slangwhanging1809

bullyragging1820

slanging1856

bespattering1862

bespatterment1870

bad-mouthing1939

bad mouth1947

slagging1956

flak1968

verbal1970

handbagging1987

pelters1992

1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions i. vi. 86 They curse him, and reuyle him with all woordes of mischiefe.

e. the father (also mother) of mischief: the source or begetter of evil or wrongdoing.

ΚΠ

a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 1468 The mother of mischief, is na mair nor a midgewing.

1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy III. ii. 11 The father of mischief..could not have contrived a worse fashion for one in my father's situation.

1766 B. Franklin Let. 28 Apr. in Wks. (1887) III. 463 I congratulate you on the repeal of that mother of mischiefs, the Stamp Act.

1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. i. 15 The mother of mischief confound the ranger of the forest that cuts the foreclaws off our dogs.

1851 N. Hawthorne House of Seven Gables xii. 200 The original perpetrator and father of this mischief..still walks the street.

1880 Amer. Missionary May 141/1 Idleness is the mother of mischief, and what an opportunity such people have to enter into temptation!

P3.

a. to do mischief: to cause trouble or harm.In early use frequently denoting serious disturbance, injury, etc.; now usually in milder sense.

ΚΠ

c1530 A. Barclay Egloges iii. sig. Pij ^v They haue no frendshyp, but conspyracyon And to do myschefe, confederacyon.

1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. i. 358 Those bullets which graze on the ground do most mischief to an army.

1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. ix. 164 Other Vices eventually do Mischief: This alone aims at it as an End.

1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 61 Hast no done mischief enow already, wi' thy murders and thy witcherings?

1874 E. P. Peabody Rec. Mr. Alcott's School 177 He thought an infant brought faith into the world with it; for when it did mischief, it always thought that its mother could mend it all.

1956 M. Dickens Angel in Corner xi. 210 She had a tactless tongue, but it came from an honest heart, not from a desire to do mischief.

1991 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Feb. 159/3 Happiness, however, has not tempered his urge to do mischief.

b. to be up to mischief (usually affectionately, esp. of children): to misbehave, to be naughty (without implication of malice).

ΚΠ

1848 Ladies' Repository Mar. 75/1 Susy, who is always up to mischief, made them a rag-baby's head.

1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. xiv. 218 ‘What are you laughing at? You are up to some mischief, Jo,’ said Laurie, looking mystified.

1909 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Avonlea xxv. 286 I wouldn't have bothered coming if I hadn't thought you were up to some mischief.

1934 P. Lynch Turf-cutter's Donkey xiv. 112 Tell me what mischief this Seamus is up to and I'll see about it!

1991 C. Kelly Forest of Night (BNC) i. 6 We were always close as girls... We didn't half get up to some mischief.

P4. to make mischief [compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French faire meschief] : to create or promote discord or dissension, esp. by gossiping or talebearing. Cf. mischief-maker n.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension

to make strife1303

to make the feathers flyc1430

to stir the coals1539

to make mischiefc1572

to blow the bellows1590

to blow the fire1670

to stir the pot1826

to stir (also rouse) the possum1900

to mix it1950

c1572 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre in Compl. Wks. (1907–10) I. 179 And yet in warres, such graffes of grudge do growe, Such lewdnesse lurkes, such malice makes mischief.

1653 Duchess of Newcastle Poems & Fancies 188 No sad example he by warning takes, If none will do him hurt, some mischief makes.

1760–1 C. Lennox Ladies Museum I. 587 But this I keep to myself, for I would not make mischief.

1817 W. Scott Rob Roy II. xiv. 311 It's ill-scrapit tongues like your's, that make mischief atween neighbourhoods and nations.

1884 Cassell's Family Mag. May 374 She was always making mischief between them [sc. two lovers].

1956 ‘J. Wyndham’ Seeds of Time 87 Passengers, having nothing to occupy them, were always making mischief one way and another.

1992 Sunday Times of India 19 Apr. 1/2 Mr Chavan also warned Pakistan of a befitting reply in case that country ventured to make mischief on our borders.

P5. the mischief (of —— ) is (that): ‘the trouble (with —— ) is (that)’. Used colloquially to specify the most unfortunate, tiresome, or problematic aspect of an affair, situation, etc. Now rare.

ΚΠ

1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 374 The mischief is, if we carry them out of their own air they die immediately.

1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin iii. i. 5 Their dear Francis..admired for a glorious Saint, was in his life time commonly taken for a silly Fool, by their own Confession. And the mischief is, for no small reason neither.

1709 J. Swift Let. conc. Sacramental Test 22 But the Mischief was, these Allies would never be brought to allow that the Common Enemy was quite Subdued.

1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 155. ⁋7 The mischief of flattery is..that it suppresses the influence of honest ambition.

1883 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) (at cited word) I have money enough, but the mischief is I have left my purse at home.

1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad lxii. 92 And faith, 'tis pleasant till 'tis past: The mischief is that 'twill not last.

1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xviii. 155 We don't know what we want, that's the mischief with us.

Compounds

C1. Chiefly objective.

mischief-doer n.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who

sower1380

firebranda1382

barratorc1430

makebate1529

bate-makera1564

mischief-master1567

boutefeu?1584

make-debate1588

breed-bate1593

kindle-fire1595

brew-bate1602

brand1608

fling-brand1616

make-strife1617

mischief-monger1620

blow-coal1622

kindle-coal1630

fire spirit1647

mischief-maker1675

mischief-doer1822

mixer1938

1822 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 4 May 304 Representing me as a mischief-doer to the country.

1956 Shakespeare Q. 7 278 This mischief-doer would bring harm to some of the members of his menage.

† mischief-founder n. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1800 S. T. Coleridge tr. F. Schiller Piccolomini iv. i. 148 Thus compel Into my service that old mischief-founder.

† mischief-master n. Obsolete

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who

sower1380

firebranda1382

barratorc1430

makebate1529

bate-makera1564

mischief-master1567

boutefeu?1584

make-debate1588

breed-bate1593

kindle-fire1595

brew-bate1602

brand1608

fling-brand1616

make-strife1617

mischief-monger1620

blow-coal1622

kindle-coal1630

fire spirit1647

mischief-maker1675

mischief-doer1822

mixer1938

1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xiii. f. 158 Would God this mischeef mayster had in verrye deede beene mad.

c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme xciv. 30 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 142 The canckred crue, those mischief-masters, who for me did stand.

mischief-monger n.

ΘΚΠ

society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who

sower1380

firebranda1382

barratorc1430

makebate1529

bate-makera1564

mischief-master1567

boutefeu?1584

make-debate1588

breed-bate1593

kindle-fire1595

brew-bate1602

brand1608

fling-brand1616

make-strife1617

mischief-monger1620

blow-coal1622

kindle-coal1630

fire spirit1647

mischief-maker1675

mischief-doer1822

mixer1938

1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote iv. 23 That Cheater, that arrant Mischiefe-monger.

1888 England 18 Aug. 11/1 The Grand Old Mischief Monger at the head.

1990 B. P. Saha Indian Police 144 The policemen played the role of main mischief-mongers.

† mischief-sufferer n. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum (at cited word) Myschiefe sufferer, or taker, sceleratus.

† mischief-taker n. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum (at cited word) Myschiefe sufferer, or taker, sceleratus.

† mischief-wreaker n. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos vi. 862 Wult see the Tarquin kings? and stately soule of Brutus brest? Of Brutus, mischief wreaker?

† mischief-boding adj. Obsolete

ΚΠ

1741 H. Walpole Corr. 3 Jan. (1961) 304 Livid Lim'rick's mischief-boding head.

1827 A. Bigelow Jrnl. 20 Mar. in Trav. Malta & Sicily (1831) xiv. 407 The clouds, which had continued to accumulate, had a mischief-boding aspect.

mischief-doing adj. and n. now rare

ΚΠ

1687 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 275 Those devilish murdering, mischief-doing engines called bombs.

1692 ‘J. Curate’ Sc. Presbyterian Eloquence iii. 106 Ede, has thou been at Barne-breaking, Ede? [margin] Mischief doing.

1795 C. Este Journ. Flanders, Brabant, & Germany 200 They may raise offensive sensations, like the monsters who have devoured one another on the Ohio, at their horrid quantity of mischief-doing power.

1830 W. Scott Ivanhoe (new ed.) I. ii. 38 The guards and mischief-doing satellites of the wicked Baron.

1856 National Mag. Jan. 75/1 A lump of white chalk—a substance considered now-a-days almost invariably ominous of mischief-doing in the hands of a boy.

1900 T. Roosevelt in St. Nicholas May 573/1 I do not believe in mischief-doing in school hours, or in the kind of animal spirits that results in making bad scholars.

mischief-hatching adj.

ΚΠ

1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) v. cxxvi. 62 His mischief-hatching Plots seem'd sober Reason, Which in the Passions must have gone for Treason.

1845 S. Judd Margaret i. xvii. 158 The hot mischief-hatching heart of the earth.

mischief-loving adj.

ΚΠ

1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xxi. 258 What a commotion has this mischief-loving Captain raised!

1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. xxi. 299 The mischief-loving lad no sooner suspected a mystery, than he set himself to find it out, and led Jo a trying life of it.

1955 Man 55 125/2 Such a woman provided no encouragement to even the most mischief-loving chieftain to fill her up with fanciful stories.

† mischief-tainted adj. Obsolete rare

ΚΠ

1598 F. Rous Thule i. sig. B That rout of mischief-tainted theeues.

mischief-working adj.

ΚΠ

1765 C. Smart tr. Psalms David xcii. 88 Thy mischief-working foes Shall not continue in their guile.

1864 Reader 24 Dec. 792/1 Another mischief-working influence is that of actor-managers and manageresses.

1930 E. T. C. Werner (title) The mischief-working metric system.

C2.

mischief night n. chiefly English regional (northern) an evening (originally 30 April, now 30 October or 4 November) on which children traditionally indulge in mischievous pranks.

ΘΚΠ

the world > time > period > year > [noun] > specific days of the year

Candlemas1014

May Day1267

All Souls' Dayc1300

midsummer evena1400

firstc1400

Beltane1424

midsummer eve1426

quarter day1435

Beltane1456

mid-Sundaya1475

madding-day1568

Lord Mayor's day1591

Barnaby bright1595

Lammas-eve1597

All Saints' Night1607

Handsel Monday1635

distaff's day1648

long Barnabya1657

St. Valentine's eve1671

leet-day1690

All Fools' Day1702

Boxing Day1743

April Fool's Day1748

Royal Oak Day1759

box day1765

Oak-apple Day1802

All Souls' Eve1805

mischief night1830

Shick-shack Day1847

chalk-back day1851

call night1864

Nut-Monday1867

Arbor Day1872

April Fool's1873

Labour Day1884

Martinmas Sunday1885

call day1886

Samhain1888

Juneteenth1890

Mother's Day1890

Father's Day1908

Thinking Day1927

Punkie night1931

Tweede Nuwejaar1947

the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > day for tricks

All Fools' Day1702

April Fool's Day1748

mischief night1830

chalk-back day1851

April Fool's1873

1830 Sheffield Independent 22 May A gang of lawless boys, who had taken it into their heads that on particular occasions, such as May een, or mischief night as it was termed, they might commit the most serious depredations with impunity.

1865 W. S. Banks List Provinc. Words Wakefield 47 Mischief neet. Boys, thirty years ago, used to go about damaging property, believing the law allowed them, on this night. Happily the practice is over at Wakefield, and the time forgotten.

1972 ‘J. Ripley’ My Word you should have seen Us 119 It was ‘Mischief Night’—the evening before ‘Bonfire Night’—and an annual happening peculiar to the northern provinces.

1999 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 1 Nov. 20/5 The fire occurred on Mischief Night, the night before Halloween.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online June 2022).

单词	mischief
释义	mischiefn. Brit. /ˈmɪstʃᵻf/, U.S. /ˈmɪstʃᵻf/ Forms: Middle English mechef, Middle English meschef, Middle English meschief, Middle English–1500s myschef, Middle English–1500s myscheyf, Middle English–1500s myschief, Middle English–1500s myschiefe, Middle English–1500s myschyfe, Middle English–1600s mischeefe, Middle English–1600s mischefe, Middle English–1600s mischife, Middle English–1800s mischeif, Middle English–1800s myschefe, Middle English– mischief, 1500s–1800s mischiefe; English regional 1800s– mirschey (south-western), 1800s– mirschy (south-western), 1800s– mischeef (northern), 1800s– mischieve (northern), 1800s– mischty (south-western), 1800s– mischy (south-western), 1900s– mishtiff (west midlands). Plural Middle English myschefis, Middle English–1500s myscheffes, Middle English–1500s myscheues, Middle English–1500s myscheuys, Middle English–1500s myschieves, Middle English–1600s mischefes, Middle English– mischiefs, 1500s mischeffis, 1500s–1600s mischiefes, 1500s–1600s mischieves, 1600s misscheifes, 1600s myscheives. See also note below. Origin: A borrowing from French. Etymon: French meschief. Etymology: < Anglo-Norman meschief, meschef, meschefe, meschieff, myschief, mescheve and Middle French meschief misfortune, trouble, hardship, mischief, wrong, damage (late 12th cent. in Old French; also in form miscief in Old French; French méchef ), either < mes- mis- prefix² + chef chief n. (in sense ‘end, extremity’), or < meschever (see mischieve v.). Compare Old Occitan mescap , mescab , meschap damage, loss, harm (12th cent.); also Spanish menoscabo (1246), Catalan menyscab (1295), although compare discussion s.v. mis- prefix².Note on forms: only a selection of the commoner forms is given above. For variation in the first syllable see mis- prefix¹. In the second syllable ey , i , y , and ye are attested ME–15, e , ee , and ei ME–16, and ie ME–. Pre-17 Scottish forms have: e , ee , ei , ey , i , and ie . Forms without s in the medial consonant cluster are attested ME–16, and likewise forms with this cluster simplified (variously -ch- , -sh- , -sc- , -ssh- ). A form michsyfe , perhaps suggesting a metathesized pronunciation, occurs rarely in 16. For the final consonant f is attested ME–, ff ME–16, u and v ME–15 (16 in plural), and p ME; pre-17 Scottish forms also have (rarely) w . Final -e is attested ME–17. English regional forms (south-western) mischty , mischy , mirschey , mirschy , and (northern) mischeef , mischieve are attested 18–. Metrical evidence from the 16th cent. onwards shows occasional instances of stress apparently falling on the second syllable. When this occurs at line endings, rhymes with grief , relief , etc., suggest that the vowel of the final syllable was also lengthened. Pronunciations of this type, probably originating as spelling-pronunciations motivated in part by perception of the word's composite nature (compare the note s.v. mis- prefix²), persist in modern British usage in the nonstandard English regional (northern) variant /ˈmɪstʃiːf/. †I. Misfortune, bad luck. 1. a. As a count noun: a misfortune, a calamity. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [noun] > misfortune or ill-luck > instance of misfortune or ill-luck unsitheOE evila1300 mischiefa1325 illa1340 adversity1340 infortunea1393 infortunity1477 cladec1480 misfortunec1485 fortune1490 trouble?1521 stumble1547 infelicity1575 disgrace1622 unfortunacya1662 disgracia1740 miscanter1781 reversal1846 avalanche1850 rough spin1919 a1325 Statutes of Realm (2011) vi. 22 For þe grete meschefs, damages ant deseritesoun þat men of þe reaume ant of Yngelonde habbez iheued ar þis time. a1400 J. Wyclif Sel. Eng. Wks. (1871) III. 204 (MED) Þenk..how God haþ savyd þe fro deeþ and oþer miscevis. c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) 708 (MED) Luf-lowe hem bytwene lasched so hote Þat alle þe meschefez on mold moȝt hit not sleke. a1425 (?c1375) N. Homily Legendary (Harl.) in C. Horstmann Altengl. Legenden (1881) 2nd Ser. 4 For pete..Of þe grete mescheuys of man-kynde. 1481 W. Caxton tr. Siege & Conqueste Jerusalem (1893) vi. 25 Alle the meseases & the myschiefs that the peple of our lord endured that tyme. 1547 in A. I. Cameron Sc. Corr. Mary of Lorraine (1927) 186 Swa I to remane as ane plege quhilk war to me ane myscheif and dishonour. 1633 J. Ford 'Tis Pitty shee's Whore ii. sig. D4 ^v Thou art a man remark't to tast a mischiefe. c1650 J. Spalding Memorialls Trubles Scotl. & Eng. (1851) II. 15 The inconveniences and mischeiffis that will havellie fall vpone vs. 1781 W. Cowper Charity 282 Shipwreck..fire, and flood, Are mighty mischiefs. 1827 J. Hogg Tales 185 I'm amaist fleyed out o' my wits among a' ither mischiefs. b. Evil plight or condition; ill-fortune; trouble, distress. Also (in early use): need, want, poverty. Obsolete.Phrase at (great, etc.) mischief at Phrases 1a. ΘΚΠ the mind > possession > poverty > [noun] waedlec888 wanspeedc893 wanea1100 wandrethc1175 miseasea1200 povertya1225 lowness?c1225 needc1225 orcostc1225 poorness?a1300 unwealtha1300 defaultc1300 porailc1325 straitnessa1340 poorhead1340 mischiefa1375 miseasetya1382 needinessa1382 misterc1385 indigencec1386 scarcitya1387 noughtc1400 scantnessc1400 necessity?1406 penurya1425 povertnessa1434 exilitya1439 wantc1450 scarcenessc1475 needinga1500 povertiesa1500 penurity?a1505 poortith?a1513 debility1525 tenuity1535 leanness1550 lack1555 Needham1577 inopy1581 pinching1587 dispurveyance1590 egency1600 macritude1623 penuriousness1630 indigency1631 needihood1648 necessitousness1650 egestuosity1656 straitened circumstancesa1766 unopulence1796 Queer Street1811 lowliness1834 breadlessness1860 unwealthiness1886 out-of-elbowness1890 secondary poverty1901 Short Street1920 the world > action or operation > adversity > [noun] > tribulation, trouble, or affliction teeneOE harmOE sourc1000 trayOE angec1175 wosithc1200 ail?c1225 barrat?c1225 misease?c1225 passion?c1225 troublec1230 sorenessc1275 grievancea1300 cumbermentc1300 cumbering1303 thro1303 angera1325 strifea1325 sweama1325 encumbrancec1330 tribulationc1330 threst1340 mischiefa1375 pressc1375 unhend1377 miseasetya1382 angernessc1390 molestc1390 troublancec1400 notea1425 miseasenessc1450 cumber?a1513 tribule1513 unseasonableness?1523 troublesomeness1561 tribulance1575 tine1590 trials and tribulations1591 pressure1648 difficulty1667 hell to pay1758 dree1791 trial and tribulation1792 Queer Street1811 Sturm und Drang1857 a thin time1924 shit1929 crap1932 shtook1936 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 5131 (MED) Be merciabul to alle men þat in mechef arn. c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 493 He ne lafte nat for reyn ne thonder, In sikness nor in meschief to visite The ferrest in his parisshe. c1390 in C. Brown Relig. Lyrics 14th Cent. (1924) 133 In Mischef and in bonchef boþe. a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 20050 (MED) Womman sal peris o na barn, Ne nan wit mischiue be forfarn. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 191 Þat no man..ȝeue him..nouther of mete ne of drynk, And so schall he dye in myschef. 1433 Rolls of Parl. IV. 424/2 They bee nowe in grete myschief and necessite. 1523 Ld. Berners tr. J. Froissart Cronycles I. xii. 12 The kyng and the yong Spencer, seyng theym selfe thus beseged in thir myschiefe, and knewe no Comfort that myght come to them. 1592 Countess of Pembroke tr. R. Garnier Antonius v. sig. O2^v O breast where death (Oh mischief) [Fr. hà mechef] comes to choake vp vitall breath. ?a1610 A. Montgomerie Poems (1887) 130 Hir mirrines with missheif ay is mixt. 1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. i. sig. B1^v Hee arriues not at the mischiefe of being wise. 1679 W. Penn Addr. Protestants (1692) i. 55 Alas! we are not the same; that's our Mis-chief. 1803 A. Boswell Songs 3 I should wish mischief on ye for't, But canna wish ought ill to you. II. Harm, injury, or evil done to or suffered by a person, etc. 2. a. Harm or evil considered as attributable to a particular agent or cause. Frequently to do mischief and variants (esp. in early use). ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] burstc1000 harmOE scatheOE teenOE evil healc1175 waningc1175 hurt?c1225 quede?c1225 balec1275 damage1300 follyc1300 grill13.. ungain13.. torferc1325 eviltyc1330 wem1338 impairment1340 marring1357 unhend1377 sorrowc1380 pairingc1384 pairmentc1384 mischiefc1385 offencec1385 appairment1388 hindering1390 noyinga1398 bresta1400 envya1400 wemminga1400 gremec1400 wilc1400 blemishing1413 lesion?a1425 nocument?a1425 injuryc1430 mischieving1432 hindrance1436 detrimenta1440 ill1470 untroth1470 diversity1484 remordc1485 unhappinessc1485 grudge1491 wriguldy-wrag?1520 danger1530 dishort1535 perishment1540 wreaka1542 emperishment1545 impeachment1548 indemnity1556 impair1568 spoil1572 impeach1575 interestc1575 emblemishing1583 mishap1587 endamagement1593 blemishment1596 mischievance1600 damnificationa1631 oblesion1656 mishanter1754 vitiation1802 mar1876 jeel1887 c1385 G. Chaucer Knight's Tale 1326 I se a serpent or a theef, That many a trewe man hath doon mescheef, Goon at his large. c1500 Lyfe Roberte Deuyll 724 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains Early Pop. Poetry Eng. (1864) I. 247 Greate myscheyf haue I do, and muche yll; As to robbe and slea. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Psalms lv. 3 They are mynded to do me some myschefe, so maliciously are they set agaynst me. 1542 H. Brinkelow Lamentacion sig. Dviii Ye haue..done most myschefe in shoting vp of Godes worde from the people. 1600 W. Shakespeare Midsummer Night's Dream ii. i. 237 If thou followe mee, do not beleeue, But I shall doe thee mischiefe, in the wood. View more context for this quotation 1703 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion II. vi. 47 They..who had contrived the mischief. 1727 D. Defoe Syst. Magick i. iii. 74 The Devil is seldom out of call when he is wanted for any Mischief. 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. x. 296 It was hardly possible two such damned rascals should colleague together without mischief to honest people. 1857 J. Ruskin Polit. Econ. Art ii. 136 It is quite wonderful how much mischief may be done even by small capacity. 1872 T. Hardy Under Greenwood Tree I. ii. v. 186 Bless ye, my sonnies! 'tisn't the pa'son's move at all. That gentleman over there..is at the root of the mischief. 1890 S. S. Buckman John Darke's Sojourn in Cotteswolds xvi. 150 Er's harmless enow when he comes yereby, er 'oodn't do none mischy. 1909 Dundee Advertiser 24 Feb. 6/2 To advance purblindly upon the problem..is to intensify the mischief. 1975 A. MacLeish Let. 11 Mar. (1983) 437 Your generation is going to have to undo the mischief. b. An injury inflicted by a person or other agent; an offence committed by a person; an evil arising out of or existing in certain conditions.Now chiefly in to do (a person, oneself) a mischief at Phrases 1b. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > action > instance of scathe-deedc1275 scathe-workc1275 wrake13.. mischief?1418 incommodityc1450 wramp1669 to go in a perisher1864 to do oneself a bit of no good1914 ?1418–19 Guildhall Let.-bk. in R. W. Chambers & M. Daunt Bk. London Eng. (1931) 97 (MED) The Cite of London hatht had..gret Mischiefs, sclaundres, and harmes thorugh the gret disceyt and falsnesse of Brokours. 1530 W. Tyndale Pract. Prelates sig. Cvij If any resisted them what so euer mischeuen they went about. 1580 J. Lyly Euphues & his Eng. (new ed.) f. 59^v Of two mischiefes the least is to be chosen. 1593 Queen Elizabeth I tr. Boethius De Consolatione Philosophiæ in Queen Elizabeth's Englishings (1899) i. pr. v. 15 Of mischefz or fraudes of thy slaunderers [L. sceleribus fraudibusque delatorum]. 1611 Bible (King James) Psalms lii. 2 Thy tongue deuiseth mischiefes . View more context for this quotation 1693 tr. J. Le Clerc Mem. Count Teckely i. 50 The Turks..would not fail to work them 1000 mischiefs by means of the new Garrison of Newhaussel. 1726 J. Swift Gulliver I. ii. i. 18 I..made three Huzza's to shew I had got no Mischief by my Fall. 1775 E. Burke Speech Amer. Taxation 30 Infinite mischiefs would be the consequence of such a power. a1862 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. (1869) III. ii. 47 General mischiefs depend upon general causes. 1871 S. Smiles Character ii. 58 The social mischiefs resulting from a neglect of the purifying influence of women. 1878 H. Bessemer Autobiogr. (1905) ii. 25 I began to consider if some new sort of stamp could be devised to prevent so serious a mischief. a1993 Lothian Council Documents (BNC) (heading) React to change in trading practices identifying mischiefs and potential remedies. †3. Originally: a disease or ailment; sickness. Later (chiefly Medicine): a pathological condition or process. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] soreOE cothec1000 sicknessc1000 evilc1275 maladyc1275 grievance1377 passiona1382 infirmityc1384 mischiefa1387 affectiona1398 grievinga1398 grief1398 sicka1400 case?a1425 plaguec1425 diseasea1475 alteration1533 craze1534 uncome1538 impediment1542 affliction?1555 ailment1606 disaster1614 garget1615 morbus1630 ail1648 disaffect1683 disorder1690 illness1692 trouble1726 complaint1727 skookum1838 claim1898 itis1909 bug1918 wog1925 crud1932 bot1937 lurgy1947 Korean haemorrhagic fever1951 nadger1956 the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] > morbid condition infectiona1398 morbosity1646 morbidness1668 diseasiness1674 morbidity1721 mischief1843 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 119 (MED) His brest roted wiþ ynne..a phisician seide hym in þis meschif was Goddes wreþþe. a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) 698 (MED) Many yvels, angers, and mescheefes..comes..Als fevyr, dropsy..and other maladys. c1450 (?a1422) J. Lydgate Life Our Lady (Durh.) iii. 724 All the worlde shall comforte fynde..Ande soueraine helthe in euery myscheve fele. 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Myschiefe beynge close or secrete, vlcus. 1600 W. Shakespeare Much Ado about Nothing i. iii. 12 To apply a morall medicine, to a mortifying mischiefe . View more context for this quotation 1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World I. xvii. xxiv. 539 The running mange or tettar, is a mischeefe peculiar unto the Fig tree. 1681 N. Grew Musæum Regalis Societatis (1694) iv. i. 555 [Dr. Castle] who did thereupon suffer such extreme pains, and mischief in his Eyes, that he now dispairs of ever seeing more. 1790 P. Pott Chirurg. Observ. (rev. ed.) I. 135 The extent and degree of the mischief is beyond all doubt. 1843 R. J. Graves Syst. Clin. Med. ix. 98 Traces of inflammatory mischief. 1860 F. Winslow Obscure Dis. Brain & Mind 12 The mischief established within the cranium, disorganizing the delicate tissue of the brain. 1899 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. VI. 130 When the mischief is confined to the lung. 4. Law. a. A wrong suffered by a particular individual or individuals under a law, regarded as an alternative to the injury to the general public good which would otherwise ensue. Also: such wrongs collectively. Cf. inconvenience n. 3c. Now historical. ΘΚΠ society > law > administration of justice > court proceedings or procedure > judging > [noun] > judgement or decision of court > a just judgement > individually unjust but generally good mischief1509 1509 S. Hawes Pastime of Pleasure (1845) x. 36 To dysnull myschefe and inconvenyence, They made our lawes wyth grete diligence. 1530 St. German's Secunde Dyaloge Doctour & Student xlvi. f. cxxi The lawe wyll rather suffre that myschyefe then the sayd inconuenyence. a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 15 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) True Iustice punisheth nothing but the evill act or wicked word, that by the Lawes of all Kingdomes it is a capitall cryme to devise or purpose the death of your King... And therefore the Law in that case punisheth the thought, for better is a mischiefe, then an inconvenience. 1622 G. de Malynes Consuetudo 161 It is better to suffer a mischiefe than an inconuenience; the mischiefe being attributed to one or some particular persons, and the inconuenience to the whole Common-wealth in generall. 1670 J. Ray Coll. Eng. Prov. 121 Better a mischief, then an inconvenience. That is, better a present mischief that is soon over, then a constant grief and disturbance. a1710 R. Atkyns Parl. & Polit. Tracts (1734) 199 By a Mischief is meant, when one Man or some few men suffer by the Hardship of a Law, which Law is yet useful for the Publick. But an Inconvenience is to have a publick Law disobeyed or broken, or an Offence to go unpunished. 1804 H. H. Brackenridge Mod. Chivalry II. ii. iii. 134 It is better to bear an individual mischief, than a public inconvenience. This is a maxim of the common law. 1993 Speculum 68 748 The concept of mischief invokes the authority of reason in stressing the avoidance of injustice to an individual. b. More generally: a disability or wrong which a person suffers, esp. one which it is the object of a statute to remove or for which equity affords a remedy.Occasionally in †to be at a mischief (obsolete). ΘΚΠ society > law > rule of law > lawlessness > specific offences > [noun] > invasion of another's rights, tort, or damage > condition of suffering a wrong mischiefa1626 a1626 F. Bacon Elements Common Lawes (1630) 48 Hee tooke his graunt subiect to that mischiefe at first. a1626 F. Bacon Elements Common Lawes (1630) 26 Pleadings must be certain, because the aduerse party may know wherto to answer, or else he were at a mischief, which mischiefe is remedied by a demurrer. a1634 E. Coke 2nd Pt. Inst. Lawes Eng. (1642) 124 The mischiefe before this Act was, That in a Writ of Dower, Unde nihil habet, there were dayes of common retourn..which was mischievous to the woman, in respect of the long delay. 1766 B. Franklin Let. 28 Apr. in Wks. (1887) III. 463 I congratulate you on the repeal of that mother of mischiefs, the Stamp Act. 1768 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. III. ii. 19 Every scheme..hath been hitherto found to be..productive of more mischiefs than it would remedy. 1793 N. Chipman Rep. & Diss. ii. 164 C..having notice of B's previous purchase, was not within the mischief, and, therefore, not within the equity of the remedy. 1818 W. Cruise Digest Laws Eng. Real Prop. (ed. 2) IV. 524 If the adhering to such determinations is likely to be attended with inconvenience, it is a matter fit to be remedied by the legislature; which is able to prevent the mischief in future. 1885 Law Times Rep. (N.S.) 52 319/2 Criminal informations are within the mischief intended to be guarded against. 1993 J. Cooke Law of Tort (BNC) 145 A breach of a statutory requirement constitutes negligence where the statute was passed to prevent a mischief in respect of which the defendant was already under a duty at common law. III. Harmful action, etc.; a source of this. †5. Evildoing, wickedness. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > badness or evil > [noun] woughc888 naughteOE manOE evilness1000 fakenOE witherfulnessc1200 lithera1225 villainy?c1225 lithernessa1240 unwrastshipa1250 felonyc1290 shrewheadc1290 litherhead1297 illa1300 wicknessa1300 follyc1300 iniquity13.. shrewdom13.. wickhedec1305 shrewdheadc1315 shrewdnessc1315 unwrastnessc1315 wickednessa1340 malicea1382 unequityc1384 lewdnessa1387 mischiefa1387 wickedleka1400 wickedredea1400 badnessc1400 shrewdshipc1400 shrewnessc1425 ungoodlihead1430 wickdomc1440 rudenessc1451 mauvasty1474 unkindliness1488 noughtinessa1500 perversenessa1500 illnessc1500 filthiness?1504 noisomeness1506 naughtiness?1529 noughtihoodc1540 inexcellence1590 improbity1593 flagition1598 meschancy1609 scelerateness1613 pravity1620 meschantnessa1630 flagitiousness1692 flagitiosity1727 nefariousness1727 bale-fire1855 ill-conditionedness1866 iniquitousness1870 society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > evildoing or wrongdoing > [noun] sinc825 naughteOE unnuteOE sinningc1000 unrightOE un-i-selthlOE wonder1154 misguiltc1200 misdoinga1225 teeninga1225 miss?c1225 crimec1250 misdeed?c1250 wickednessa1300 mischiefa1387 evil-doing1398 mistakinga1400 perpetrationc1429 wrongingc1449 maledictionc1475 maleficence1533 wicked-doing1535 foul play1546 misdealing1571 flagition1598 delinquency1603 malefaction1604 meschancy1609 malefacture1635 misacting1651 guilt1726 flagitiosity1727 malpractice1739 malfeasance1856 peccation1861 miscreance1972 a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1874) V. 345 Þanne he fille into greet mescheef þat he hired an Hebrewe wicche and forsook Crist. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 497 By thy myschyff and thy vengeaunce thou haste destroyed that moste noble knyght. 1535 Bible (Coverdale) Gen. vi. B Y^e earth was corrupte in y^e sight of God, and full of myschefe. 1596 J. Dalrymple tr. J. Leslie Hist. Scotl. (1888) I. 161 With a plumpe he fercelie fallis in al kynde of mischeife [L. in omnia flagitiorum & turpitudinum genera]. 1611 Bible (King James) Acts xiii. 10 O full of all subtilty and all mischiefe . View more context for this quotation a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 1468 The mother of mischeif is na mair nor a midgewing. 1770 R. Cumberland Brothers iv. ii. 47 Andrew, you are as false as a quick-sand; and as full of mischief as a fire-ship. 1886 R. L. Stevenson Strange Case Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde 8 There was something about the lot of us that meant mischief, and at last he struck. 6. A cause or source of harm or evil; spec. a person whose conduct or influence is harmful or mischievous. Now usually in weakened sense: a person (esp. a child) who causes petty annoyance or acts in a naughty or vexatious manner. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > a harmful thing or person appairer1382 malisona1525 deformer1562 annoyer1577 scathe1579 harmer1583 mischief1586 allayer1615 crippler1648 devilifier1793 vitiator1846 deterioratora1856 flivver1915 the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > a harmful thing or person > pestilential starveOE starvec1225 plaguea1450 pestilenta1530 mischief1586 nuisancer1769 Typhoid Mary1913 menace1936 the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > mischievous person > [noun] wait-scathe1481 wag-pastya1556 mischief1586 rogue1593 devil1600 villain1609 fiend1621 imp1633 sprite1684 torment1785 scapegrace1809 bad hat1877 the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmfully mischievous person > [noun] disturberc1290 troublera1382 distroublerc1440 disturblerc1440 boutefeu?1584 mischief1586 breed-bate1593 trouble-feast1603 flight-head1605 trouble-rest1605 trouble-house1608 trouble-cupa1610 trouble-state1609 seek-trouble1611 fling-brand1616 trouble-town1619 blow-coal1622 trouble-world1663 mischief-maker1675 fire-sprit1847 firebug1869 ratbag1890 disturbant1894 mixer1938 the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > harmful mischief > [noun] > cause of mischief1586 bosom-mischiefa1662 1586 A. Day Eng. Secretorie i. sig. F1 Hee was called..the Plague of a common weale, the Mischiefe of men. 1600 B. Jonson Every Man out of his Humor v. iii. sig. Piii^v O my good Mischiefe, art thou come? View more context for this quotation 1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Gen. xvi. 12) 132 Mahomet, the mischiefe of mankinde. 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 174 One of the jarrs of water broke, which was a great mischiefe to them, and a very important losse. 1671 J. Milton Samson Agonistes 1039 The contrary she proves, a thorn Intestin, far within defensive arms A cleaving mischief . View more context for this quotation a1704 T. Brown Satyr against Woman in Wks. (1707) I. i. 82 Thy Sex are all Pandora's; Mischiefs all. 1709 S. Centlivre Busie Body iv. iv. 56 B'ye, b'ye, Dear'e. Ah, Mischief, how you look now! B'ye, b'ye. 1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 302 The sacred implement I now employ Might prove a mischief, or at best a toy. 1816 Ld. Byron Childe Harold: Canto III xlix. 27 Many a tower for some fair mischief won. 1825 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. Suppl. Mischief, a vexatious or ill-deedie person; as, ‘Ye're a perfect mischief’. 1890 Spectator 5 July Unionists such as Mr. Caine..are positive mischiefs to the party. 1891 ‘J. Evelyn’ Baffled Vengeance 191 A curly-headed mischief known by the name of Jimmy. 1908 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Green Gables xxvi. 295 She was a dreadful mischief when she was a girl and was always getting into scrapes. 1947 L. Lenski Judy's Journey iii. 41 She's an' old mischief, I can see that. 1999 Gloucestershire Echo (Nexis) 25 Oct. 12 He was sitting there playing with the toilet roll. He's a little mischief. 7. Hurtful or harmful character, influence, or intent. Now rare. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > quality loathnessc1175 grievousness1303 malicea1382 noyfulnessa1398 mischievousness1567 harmfulnessa1586 balefulness1590 illnessc1595 hurt1608 hurtfulness1611 mischief1646 noxiousness1655 deleteriousness1758 maleficence1796 vice1837 bale-fire1855 disutility1879 nocuousness1894 disvalue1925 the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > harmful mischievousness > [noun] mischievousness1567 mischief1646 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica ii. v. §2. 84 The conceit [that glass is poison] is surely grounded upon the visible mischiefe of glasse grossely or coursely powdered; for that indeed is mortally noxious. View more context for this quotation 1779 B. Franklin Let. 3 Feb. in Papers (1990) XVIII. 461 A Mist before your Eyes, which hindred you from seeing the Malignity, and Mischief of it [sc. a proposition]. 1803 R. Hall Sentiments Present Crisis 45 The innocence of the intention abates nothing of the mischief of the precedent. 1822 J. M. Good Study Med. IV. 78 This is a disorder of far greater mischief and violence than the preceding. 1957 Times Lit. Suppl. 11 Oct. 607/2 The work of Chancellor Maupeou was undone..and what was no better than an aristocratic form of Poujadism grew in power of mischief. 8. Vexatious or annoying action or behaviour; esp. childish or irresponsible behaviour which is troublesome but not malicious. Also: a tendency to or inclination for such conduct; high-spirited or playful naughtiness. ΘΚΠ the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > playful mischievousness > mischievous action > [noun] mischief1785 1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 207 Childish in mischief only and in noise. View more context for this quotation 1820 W. Irving Legend Sleepy Hollow in Sketch Bk. vi. 77 He was always ready for either a fight or a frolick; had more mischief than ill-will in his composition. 1834 F. Marryat Peter Simple II. viii. 118 The midshipmen are..full of fun and frolic. I'll bet a wager there'll be a bobbery in the pig-sty before long, for they are ripe for mischief. 1895 T. Hardy Jude i. ii. 9 Just now he's a-scaring of birds for Farmer Troutham. It keeps un out of mischty. 1908 E. F. Benson Climber 154 Lucia looked at him a moment, mischief dancing in her eyes. 1958 Times 14 Aug. 9/4 A wagon-load of monkeys is, as everyone knows, a conveyance filled to the brim with a superabundance of high spirits, artfulness, and mischief. 1990 N. Payne Grenadian Childhood 24 He was always up to mischief, bringing spiders, lizards, and so on, to class. Phrases P1. †a. at (great, etc.) mischief [compare Old French, Middle French a meschief, a grant meschief (late 12th cent.)] : in (great) misfortune or poverty; in distress; spec. at a disadvantage in battle. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > in adversity [phrase] > in an evil plight at (great, etc.) mischiefa1375 on the ragged edge1874 (down) on one's uppers1886 a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) 1362 (MED) Told þei hire..at how miche meschef here men were. ?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) (1996) i. 9716 Þei wer at mischefe, for to scape þam were lefe. a1439 J. Lydgate Fall of Princes (Bodl. 263) viii. 560 (MED) Thou deiest in prisoun at myscheef as a wrechche. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 595 Yet at my myscheffe sir Trystram rescowed me fro my deth. 1487 (a1380) J. Barbour Bruce (St. John's Cambr.) xi. 604 The erll and his thus fechtand war At gret myscheiff. a1561 G. Cavendish Metrical Visions (1980) 1034 By Cruell ffortune, at myschefe she endyd. 1567 Compend. Bk. Godly Songs (1897) 206 Of lait I saw thir lymmaris stand Lyke mad men at mischeif. 1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. Sept. 10 Or bene they chaffred? or at mischiefe dead? [gloss, an vnusuall speache, but much vsurped of Lidgate, and sometime of Chaucer]. 1700 J. Dryden Chaucer's Palamon & Arcite iii. 68 Nor, if at Mischief taken, on the Ground Be slain, but Pris'ners to the Pillar bound [etc.]. b. to do (a person, oneself) a mischief: to injure or harm (a person). ΚΠ c1430 (c1386) G. Chaucer Legend Good Women 2331 This false thef Hath don this lady yit a more myschef. 1684 W. Aspin Envious Man's Char. 24 An envious man takes his advantage of doing us a mischief when we are least aware of him. 1748 T. Smollett Roderick Random I. xxiv. 223 The captain was mainly wroth, and would certainly have done him a mischief. 1898 T. Watts-Dunton Aylwin iii. i She's got the real witch's eye, and can do you a mischief in a twink, if she likes. 1992 Pract. Householder Nov. 55/1 Among people who had an accident while ‘doing-it-themselves’, most did themselves a mischief by..cutting or pinching a part of their anatomy. P2. †a. In imprecations, as a mischief on ——!, a mischief take ——!, etc. Obsolete. ΚΠ c1475 Mankind (1969) 730 (MED) A myscheff go wyth! ?1520 J. Rastell Nature .iiii. Element sig. Bv A myschyfe on it. a1529 J. Skelton Magnyfycence (?1530) sig. Eiiii^v God gyue hym a myscheffe. a1556 N. Udall Ralph Roister Doister (?1566) iv. iii. sig. F.iij^v A mischiefe take his tokens. a1563 J. Bale King Johan (1969) ii. 2480 It is Sedicyon. God gyue hym a very myschiefe! 1616 B. Jonson Epicœne ii. iv, in Wks. I. 545 Did not I tell you? mischiefe ! View more context for this quotation 1671 J. Dryden Evening's Love iv. 71 And a mischief of all foolish disguisements for my part. 1790 J. P. Kemble Love in Many Masks iii. i. 28 A mischief on thee for putting her into my thoughts. 1855 Littell's Living Age 9 June 632/1 I thought of my mother!—of her strong love for me—and a mischief on me—of her many proofs I'd be daily receiving of it. †b. with a mischief: (a) used as an expletive, esp. parenthetically in questions, as what with a mischief——? (also what a mischief——?); (b) with a vengeance. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > high or intense degree > greatly or very much [phrase] > extremely like mada1375 with a mischief1538 (as) — as anything1542 with a vengeance1568 with a siserary1607 (to be pleased) to a feathera1616 in (the) extremea1616 with the vengeance1693 to a degree1740 like hell1776 like the devil1791 like winky1830 like billy-o1885 (like) seven shades of ——1919 like a bandit1943 on wheels1943 1538 T. Elyot Dict. Addicion at Abi in malam rem Go hens with a mischefe. 1565 T. Cooper Thesaurus (at cited word) Malus, Quid tua (malum) id refert? what, with a mischiefe, haste thou to doe with it? 1572 T. Smith Let. 11 Dec. in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eng. Hist. (1846) 3rd Ser. IV. 8 What a mischeefe meanethe hee to write unto mee of new Starres and Astronomers, and telleth me nothinge of my comeing home? 1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues at Chemise Hee raised them with a mischiefe, roused them with a vengeance. 1630 J. Taylor Wks. ii. 96/2 The matronly medicines..of this..woman, will in a little time make her encrease with a vengeance, and multiply with a mischiefe. 1640 T. Nabbes Bride iii. ii Y'are welcome with a mischiefe to the occasion that brought you hither. 1822 W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel III. iii. 85 Bide doun, with a mischief to ye. 1849 tr. F. Sacchritti in U.S. Mag. & Democratic Rev. Apr. 315 M. Valore turned to him and exclaimed: ‘Go with a mischief [It. malanno]. Who the devil is this boy?’ c. euphemistic. The Devil. In phrases and questions, as to play the mischief (with), to go to the mischief, like the mischief, what (also how, etc.) the (or a) mischief——?, etc. Now colloquial and regional. ΚΠ 1553 T. Wilson Arte of Rhetorique ii. f. 81 Why, Gods mother..doest thou aske me how I gotte in, nay tel me rather in the mischief how I shal gette out. 1583 C. Hollyband Campo di Fior 283 What the mischiefe is this that thou hast for thy sadelle? a1625 J. Fletcher Wit without Money (1639) v. sig. I2 Ith name of mischiefe what did you meane. 1631 B. Jonson Bartholmew Fayre i. v. 10 in Wks. II What, the mischiefe, doe you come with her? or shee with you? 1722 J. Swift in J. Duncombe Lett. Several Eminent Persons Deceased (1773) II. 5 I wonder how a mischief you came to miss us. 1780 J. O'Keeffe Tony Lumpkin in Town ii. 21 What the mischief could bring his boots into my lady's dressing-room? 1807 Salmagundi 18 Apr. 147 This unlucky characteristic played the mischief with him in one of his love affairs. 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage I. xv. 202 Boys may go to the mischief, and be good for something. 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. ii. 28 Her large eyes would sparkle—so the men ‘allowed’—like the mischief. a1849 J. Keegan Legends & Poems (1907) 489 Dandy Delaney and his family grew rich all at once. People..wondered how the mischief he grew so ‘unbeholden’ in a moment. 1866 A. Trollope Belton Estate III. ix. 239 Why the mischief should he not set about the work at once? 1892 R. Kipling Barrack-room Ballads 24 You 'eathen, where the mischief 'ave you been? 1907 J. M. Synge Lett. to Molly (1971) 123 I am coughing away like the mischief today. 1923 E. Phillpotts Cherry-stones 67 What the mischief we creates But trouble, taxes, higher rates, Be damned to us if I can see. 1981 L. A. Pederson et al. Ling. Atlas Gulf States 0177/092 [Georgia] You've got to work like the mischief. †d. words of mischief: abusive language, abuse. Cf. mischieve v. 4. Obsolete. rare. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > invective or abuse > [noun] balec1220 ordurec1390 revile1439 brawlingc1440 railing1466 opprobry?a1475 revilingc1475 vituperation1481 vituper1484 vitupery1489 convicy1526 abusion?1530 blasphemation1533 pelta1540 oblatration?1552 words of mischief1555 abuse1559 inveighing1568 invection1590 revilement1590 invective1602 opprobration1623 invecture1633 thunder and lightning1638 raillery1669 rattlinga1677 blackguarding1742 pillory1770 slang1805 slangwhanging1809 bullyragging1820 slanging1856 bespattering1862 bespatterment1870 bad-mouthing1939 bad mouth1947 slagging1956 flak1968 verbal1970 handbagging1987 pelters1992 1555 W. Waterman tr. J. Boemus Fardle of Facions i. vi. 86 They curse him, and reuyle him with all woordes of mischiefe. e. the father (also mother) of mischief: the source or begetter of evil or wrongdoing. ΚΠ a1628 J. Carmichaell Coll. Prov. in Scots (1957) No. 1468 The mother of mischief, is na mair nor a midgewing. 1761 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy III. ii. 11 The father of mischief..could not have contrived a worse fashion for one in my father's situation. 1766 B. Franklin Let. 28 Apr. in Wks. (1887) III. 463 I congratulate you on the repeal of that mother of mischiefs, the Stamp Act. 1819 W. Scott Ivanhoe I. i. 15 The mother of mischief confound the ranger of the forest that cuts the foreclaws off our dogs. 1851 N. Hawthorne House of Seven Gables xii. 200 The original perpetrator and father of this mischief..still walks the street. 1880 Amer. Missionary May 141/1 Idleness is the mother of mischief, and what an opportunity such people have to enter into temptation! P3. a. to do mischief: to cause trouble or harm.In early use frequently denoting serious disturbance, injury, etc.; now usually in milder sense. ΚΠ c1530 A. Barclay Egloges iii. sig. Pij ^v They haue no frendshyp, but conspyracyon And to do myschefe, confederacyon. 1642 T. Fuller Holy State v. i. 358 Those bullets which graze on the ground do most mischief to an army. 1726 Bp. J. Butler 15 Serm. ix. 164 Other Vices eventually do Mischief: This alone aims at it as an End. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iii, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. IV. 61 Hast no done mischief enow already, wi' thy murders and thy witcherings? 1874 E. P. Peabody Rec. Mr. Alcott's School 177 He thought an infant brought faith into the world with it; for when it did mischief, it always thought that its mother could mend it all. 1956 M. Dickens Angel in Corner xi. 210 She had a tactless tongue, but it came from an honest heart, not from a desire to do mischief. 1991 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Feb. 159/3 Happiness, however, has not tempered his urge to do mischief. b. to be up to mischief (usually affectionately, esp. of children): to misbehave, to be naughty (without implication of malice). ΚΠ 1848 Ladies' Repository Mar. 75/1 Susy, who is always up to mischief, made them a rag-baby's head. 1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. xiv. 218 ‘What are you laughing at? You are up to some mischief, Jo,’ said Laurie, looking mystified. 1909 L. M. Montgomery Anne of Avonlea xxv. 286 I wouldn't have bothered coming if I hadn't thought you were up to some mischief. 1934 P. Lynch Turf-cutter's Donkey xiv. 112 Tell me what mischief this Seamus is up to and I'll see about it! 1991 C. Kelly Forest of Night (BNC) i. 6 We were always close as girls... We didn't half get up to some mischief. P4. to make mischief [compare Anglo-Norman and Middle French faire meschief] : to create or promote discord or dissension, esp. by gossiping or talebearing. Cf. mischief-maker n. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > be in dissension or at variance [verb (intransitive)] > cause dissension to make strife1303 to make the feathers flyc1430 to stir the coals1539 to make mischiefc1572 to blow the bellows1590 to blow the fire1670 to stir the pot1826 to stir (also rouse) the possum1900 to mix it1950 c1572 G. Gascoigne Fruites of Warre in Compl. Wks. (1907–10) I. 179 And yet in warres, such graffes of grudge do growe, Such lewdnesse lurkes, such malice makes mischief. 1653 Duchess of Newcastle Poems & Fancies 188 No sad example he by warning takes, If none will do him hurt, some mischief makes. 1760–1 C. Lennox Ladies Museum I. 587 But this I keep to myself, for I would not make mischief. 1817 W. Scott Rob Roy II. xiv. 311 It's ill-scrapit tongues like your's, that make mischief atween neighbourhoods and nations. 1884 Cassell's Family Mag. May 374 She was always making mischief between them [sc. two lovers]. 1956 ‘J. Wyndham’ Seeds of Time 87 Passengers, having nothing to occupy them, were always making mischief one way and another. 1992 Sunday Times of India 19 Apr. 1/2 Mr Chavan also warned Pakistan of a befitting reply in case that country ventured to make mischief on our borders. P5. the mischief (of —— ) is (that): ‘the trouble (with —— ) is (that)’. Used colloquially to specify the most unfortunate, tiresome, or problematic aspect of an affair, situation, etc. Now rare. ΚΠ 1660 F. Brooke tr. V. Le Blanc World Surveyed 374 The mischief is, if we carry them out of their own air they die immediately. 1677 W. Hughes Man of Sin iii. i. 5 Their dear Francis..admired for a glorious Saint, was in his life time commonly taken for a silly Fool, by their own Confession. And the mischief is, for no small reason neither. 1709 J. Swift Let. conc. Sacramental Test 22 But the Mischief was, these Allies would never be brought to allow that the Common Enemy was quite Subdued. 1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 155. ⁋7 The mischief of flattery is..that it suppresses the influence of honest ambition. 1883 Ogilvie's Imperial Dict. (new ed.) (at cited word) I have money enough, but the mischief is I have left my purse at home. 1896 A. E. Housman Shropshire Lad lxii. 92 And faith, 'tis pleasant till 'tis past: The mischief is that 'twill not last. 1910 E. M. Forster Howards End xviii. 155 We don't know what we want, that's the mischief with us. Compounds C1. Chiefly objective. a. mischief-doer n. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who sower1380 firebranda1382 barratorc1430 makebate1529 bate-makera1564 mischief-master1567 boutefeu?1584 make-debate1588 breed-bate1593 kindle-fire1595 brew-bate1602 brand1608 fling-brand1616 make-strife1617 mischief-monger1620 blow-coal1622 kindle-coal1630 fire spirit1647 mischief-maker1675 mischief-doer1822 mixer1938 1822 Cobbett's Weekly Polit. Reg. 4 May 304 Representing me as a mischief-doer to the country. 1956 Shakespeare Q. 7 278 This mischief-doer would bring harm to some of the members of his menage. † mischief-founder n. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1800 S. T. Coleridge tr. F. Schiller Piccolomini iv. i. 148 Thus compel Into my service that old mischief-founder. † mischief-master n. Obsolete ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who sower1380 firebranda1382 barratorc1430 makebate1529 bate-makera1564 mischief-master1567 boutefeu?1584 make-debate1588 breed-bate1593 kindle-fire1595 brew-bate1602 brand1608 fling-brand1616 make-strife1617 mischief-monger1620 blow-coal1622 kindle-coal1630 fire spirit1647 mischief-maker1675 mischief-doer1822 mixer1938 1567 A. Golding tr. Ovid Metamorphosis (new ed.) xiii. f. 158 Would God this mischeef mayster had in verrye deede beene mad. c1595 Countess of Pembroke Psalme xciv. 30 in Coll. Wks. (1998) II. 142 The canckred crue, those mischief-masters, who for me did stand. mischief-monger n. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > dissent > [noun] > causing dissension > one who sower1380 firebranda1382 barratorc1430 makebate1529 bate-makera1564 mischief-master1567 boutefeu?1584 make-debate1588 breed-bate1593 kindle-fire1595 brew-bate1602 brand1608 fling-brand1616 make-strife1617 mischief-monger1620 blow-coal1622 kindle-coal1630 fire spirit1647 mischief-maker1675 mischief-doer1822 mixer1938 1620 T. Shelton tr. M. de Cervantes 2nd Pt. Don Quixote iv. 23 That Cheater, that arrant Mischiefe-monger. 1888 England 18 Aug. 11/1 The Grand Old Mischief Monger at the head. 1990 B. P. Saha Indian Police 144 The policemen played the role of main mischief-mongers. † mischief-sufferer n. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum (at cited word) Myschiefe sufferer, or taker, sceleratus. † mischief-taker n. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum (at cited word) Myschiefe sufferer, or taker, sceleratus. † mischief-wreaker n. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1558 T. Phaer tr. Virgil Seuen First Bks. Eneidos vi. 862 Wult see the Tarquin kings? and stately soule of Brutus brest? Of Brutus, mischief wreaker? b. † mischief-boding adj. Obsolete ΚΠ 1741 H. Walpole Corr. 3 Jan. (1961) 304 Livid Lim'rick's mischief-boding head. 1827 A. Bigelow Jrnl. 20 Mar. in Trav. Malta & Sicily (1831) xiv. 407 The clouds, which had continued to accumulate, had a mischief-boding aspect. mischief-doing adj. and n. now rare ΚΠ 1687 J. Evelyn Mem. (1857) II. 275 Those devilish murdering, mischief-doing engines called bombs. 1692 ‘J. Curate’ Sc. Presbyterian Eloquence iii. 106 Ede, has thou been at Barne-breaking, Ede? [margin] Mischief doing. 1795 C. Este Journ. Flanders, Brabant, & Germany 200 They may raise offensive sensations, like the monsters who have devoured one another on the Ohio, at their horrid quantity of mischief-doing power. 1830 W. Scott Ivanhoe (new ed.) I. ii. 38 The guards and mischief-doing satellites of the wicked Baron. 1856 National Mag. Jan. 75/1 A lump of white chalk—a substance considered now-a-days almost invariably ominous of mischief-doing in the hands of a boy. 1900 T. Roosevelt in St. Nicholas May 573/1 I do not believe in mischief-doing in school hours, or in the kind of animal spirits that results in making bad scholars. mischief-hatching adj. ΚΠ 1702 C. Beaumont J. Beaumont's Psyche (new ed.) v. cxxvi. 62 His mischief-hatching Plots seem'd sober Reason, Which in the Passions must have gone for Treason. 1845 S. Judd Margaret i. xvii. 158 The hot mischief-hatching heart of the earth. mischief-loving adj. ΚΠ 1778 F. Burney Evelina III. xxi. 258 What a commotion has this mischief-loving Captain raised! 1868 L. M. Alcott Little Women I. xxi. 299 The mischief-loving lad no sooner suspected a mystery, than he set himself to find it out, and led Jo a trying life of it. 1955 Man 55 125/2 Such a woman provided no encouragement to even the most mischief-loving chieftain to fill her up with fanciful stories. † mischief-tainted adj. Obsolete rare ΚΠ 1598 F. Rous Thule i. sig. B That rout of mischief-tainted theeues. mischief-working adj. ΚΠ 1765 C. Smart tr. Psalms David xcii. 88 Thy mischief-working foes Shall not continue in their guile. 1864 Reader 24 Dec. 792/1 Another mischief-working influence is that of actor-managers and manageresses. 1930 E. T. C. Werner (title) The mischief-working metric system. C2. mischief night n. chiefly English regional (northern) an evening (originally 30 April, now 30 October or 4 November) on which children traditionally indulge in mischievous pranks. ΘΚΠ the world > time > period > year > [noun] > specific days of the year Candlemas1014 May Day1267 All Souls' Dayc1300 midsummer evena1400 firstc1400 Beltane1424 midsummer eve1426 quarter day1435 Beltane1456 mid-Sundaya1475 madding-day1568 Lord Mayor's day1591 Barnaby bright1595 Lammas-eve1597 All Saints' Night1607 Handsel Monday1635 distaff's day1648 long Barnabya1657 St. Valentine's eve1671 leet-day1690 All Fools' Day1702 Boxing Day1743 April Fool's Day1748 Royal Oak Day1759 box day1765 Oak-apple Day1802 All Souls' Eve1805 mischief night1830 Shick-shack Day1847 chalk-back day1851 call night1864 Nut-Monday1867 Arbor Day1872 April Fool's1873 Labour Day1884 Martinmas Sunday1885 call day1886 Samhain1888 Juneteenth1890 Mother's Day1890 Father's Day1908 Thinking Day1927 Punkie night1931 Tweede Nuwejaar1947 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > cheating, fraud > trickery, playing jokes > [noun] > day for tricks All Fools' Day1702 April Fool's Day1748 mischief night1830 chalk-back day1851 April Fool's1873 1830 Sheffield Independent 22 May A gang of lawless boys, who had taken it into their heads that on particular occasions, such as May een, or mischief night as it was termed, they might commit the most serious depredations with impunity. 1865 W. S. Banks List Provinc. Words Wakefield 47 Mischief neet. Boys, thirty years ago, used to go about damaging property, believing the law allowed them, on this night. Happily the practice is over at Wakefield, and the time forgotten. 1972 ‘J. Ripley’ My Word you should have seen Us 119 It was ‘Mischief Night’—the evening before ‘Bonfire Night’—and an annual happening peculiar to the northern provinces. 1999 Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey) 1 Nov. 20/5 The fire occurred on Mischief Night, the night before Halloween. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online June 2022). mischiefv. Brit. /ˈmɪstʃᵻf/, U.S. /ˈmɪstʃᵻf/ Forms: late Middle English myschef, late Middle English myschefe, late Middle English myschief, late Middle English myschyff, late Middle English myschyffe, 1500s mischeefe, 1500s mischef, 1500s mischyefe, 1500s– mischief, 1500s–1600s mischefe, 1500s–1600s mischiefe, 1600s mischeif, 1600s mischeife. Origin: Formed within English, by conversion. Etymon: mischief n. Etymology: < mischief n. Compare earlier mischieve v. and discussion of forms s.v. Now rare (chiefly archaic). 1. transitive. To inflict injury upon; to bring to grief or ruin; = mischieve v. 1, 2a. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > cause or effect (harm) [verb (transitive)] > do harm or injury to werdec725 wema1000 evilc1000 harmc1000 hinderc1000 teenOE scathec1175 illc1220 to wait (one) scathec1275 to have (…) wrong1303 annoya1325 grievec1330 wrong1390 to do violence to (also unto)a1393 mischievea1393 damagea1400 annulc1425 trespass1427 mischief1437 poisonc1450 injurea1492 damnify1512 prejudge1531 misfease1571 indemnify1583 bane1601 debauch1633 lese1678 empoison1780 misguggle1814 nobble1860 strafe1915 to dick up1951 the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [verb (transitive)] > to person or thing werdec725 wemc900 forworkOE evilc1000 teenOE grievec1230 misdoc1230 mischievec1325 shond1338 endamagec1374 unrighta1393 damagea1400 disvail14.. disavail1429 mischief1437 outrayc1440 prejudice1447 abuse?1473 injuryc1484 danger1488 prejudicate1553 damnify?a1562 wrack1562 inviolate1569 mislestc1573 indemnify1583 qualify1584 interess1587 buse1589 violence1592 injure1597 bane1601 envya1625 prejudiciala1637 founder1655 1437 in Archaeologia Cantiana (1931) 43 180 (MED) Thorwe the whiche..Accusacion fowre of this..men falsly & wikkedly ben slayn, myschief, & distroied. a1470 T. Malory Morte Darthur (Winch. Coll. 13) (1990) II. 610 Beware..of treson, for and thou myschyff that knyght by ony maner of falsehode or treson, [etc.]. 1533 T. More Debellacyon Salem & Bizance ii. xv. f. xii^v He wyll of lykelyhed hate & mischyefe any man by whome he taketh any harme. 1605 R. Armin Foole vpon Foole (new ed.) sig. D2^v He that mischiefes many, somtimes wrongs himselfe. 1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. xx. 734/2 Britaine hauing so many Sea-townes and Outlets to mischiefe the English trafficke. 1682 J. Bunyan Holy War 195 Whomever I mischief, whomever I wrong, to me it is musick, when to others mourning. View more context for this quotation 1855 R. C. Singleton tr. Virgil Eclogues iii, in tr. Virgil Wks. I. 15 If you had not somehow mischiefed him, You would have died. 1937 D. M. Jones In Parenthesis vi. 138 He'd throw in his mit an' be no party to this so-called frontal-attack..for now, he says,..is this noble fellowship wholly mischiefed. 2. a. transitive. To do physical harm to; to attack, savage; = mischieve v. 2b. Also figurative and in extended use. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (transitive)] derec888 marc1275 hurt1297 shond1338 teenc1380 offendc1425 tamec1430 wreakc1440 supprisea1450 mischiefc1450 mischieve1465 wringa1529 strikea1535 danger1538 bemarc1540 violate1551 damnify?a1562 injury1579 aggrievea1716 crock1846 c1450 (a1425) Metrical Paraphr. Old Test. (Selden) 16920 (MED) Aman has sett..A gebett..þei sayd all he dyd so mardocheus to myschefe. 1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 11^v The racke I commende for the sauing of dong, so set as the olde cannot mischiefe the yong. 1607 G. Markham Cavelarice v. 55 I haue seene them runne away, ouer-throw..the Coach, and mischiefe the Coach-man. 1667 R. Allestree Causes Decay Christian Piety v. 74 'Tis a certain Indication of Madness, to tear and mischief those things that would be useful to us. 1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi vi. v. 31/2 Having set his Dog to Mischief his Neighbours Cattel. 1833 R. H. Dana Poems & Prose Writings 189 'T is pity it [sc. a witty remark] should have mischiefed you. 1911 J. M. Barrie Peter & Wendy vi. 109 Any of the other boys..they would have mischiefed, but they just tweaked Peter's nose and passed on. †b. transitive (reflexive). To injure or damage oneself. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > health and disease > ill health > injury > injure [verb (reflexive)] smitec1275 mischiefc1475 c1475 Gregory's Chron. in J. Gairdner Hist. Coll. Citizen London (1876) 213 (MED) There myght noo man come unto them ovyr the pavysse for the naylys that stode up-ryghte, but yf he wolde myschyffe hym sylfe. 1547 A. Borde Breuiary of Helthe i. f. lxxii^v At lengthe they do fall madde, or do myschefe them selfe. 1624–5 in Notes & Gleanings (Exeter) 2 187 To..cut theire owne throats or otherwise murder or mischeife themselves. †c. intransitive. To do physical harm to a person. Obsolete. ΚΠ 1658 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica (ed. 3) ii. v. 70 A Bullet of Wax will mischief without melting. 1672 R. Wild Poetica Licentia in Let. Declar. Liberty Conscience 33 Their Breath will mischief far beyond a Gun. †3. intransitive. To suffer injury; = mischieve v. 3. Obsolete. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > come to grief misfareOE miswendOE misferec1275 misspeeda1387 miscarryc1387 mischieve?a1400 to catch copper1530 to lose one's seatc1540 mischief1598 to bu(r)st one's boiler1824 to come to grief1850 to come (also go) a mucker1851 to come (fall, get) a cropper1858 mucker1862 to go or be up the flume1865 to come undone1899 to play smash1903 to come to a sticky end1904 to come unstuck1911 the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (intransitive)] > be destroyed, ruined, or come to an end losec888 fallOE forlesea1225 perishc1275 spilla1300 to go to wreche13.. to go to the gatec1330 to go to lostc1374 miscarryc1387 quenchc1390 to bring unto, to fall into, to go, put, or work to wrakea1400 mischieve?a1400 tinea1400 to go to the devilc1405 bursta1450 untwindc1460 to make shipwreck1526 to go to (the) pot1531 to go to wreck (and ruin)a1547 wrake1570 wracka1586 to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587 to lie in the dusta1591 mischief1598 to go (etc.) to rack (and ruin)1599 shipwreck1607 suffera1616 unravel1643 to fall off1684 tip (over) the perch1699 to do away with1769 to go to the dickens1833 collapse1838 to come (also go) a mucker1851 mucker1862 to go up1864 to go to squash1889 to go (to) stramash1910 to go for a burton1941 to meet one's Makera1978 1598 F. Rous Thule i. sig. B Which done she weepes vpon her pitchie dore, That she should in ere she had mischief'd more. 4. intransitive. To play mischievously with. rare. ΚΠ a1639 T. Dekker et al. Witch of Edmonton (1658) iii. i. 33 The churlish storm may mischief with his bounty. 1930 H. M. Tomlinson All our Yesterdays i. iv. 43 The children got up and began to mischief with the dangerous ship. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < n.a1325v.1437
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mischiefn.

Phrases

Compounds

mischiefv.