A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

mistrial (n.) --- 1628; see mis- (1) + trial.

mistrust --- c.1374; see mis- (1) + trust (v.).

misunderstand --- c.1200; see mis- (1) + understand. Misunderstanding "dissention, disagreement" is first recorded 1642.

misuse (v.) --- c.1374, "to use improperly;" see mis- (1) + use (v.). Meaning "to subject to ill-treatment" is attested from 1540. The noun is from 1398, in a sense related to the older meaning of the verb.

mite (1) --- tiny animal, O.E. mite, from P.Gmc. *miton (cf. M.Du. mite, O.H.G. miza, Dan. mide) originally meaning perhaps "the cutter" (from P.Gmc. *mait-, cf. Goth. maitan, O.H.G. meizen "to cut") in reference to its bite. More likely etymology is that its original sense is "something small" (from PIE *mei- "small") in reference to size.

mite (2) --- little bit, c.1350, from M.Du. or M.L.G. mite "tiny animal," also the name of a medieval Flemish copper coin of very small value, used proverbially in Eng. for "a very small unit of money," hence used since Wyclif to translate L. minutum from Vulgate in Mark xii.43, itself a translation of Gk. lepton. From P.Gmc. *miton-, which probably is the source of mite (1).

miter (1) --- bishop's tall hat, c.1380, from O.Fr. mitre, from L. mitra, from Gk. mitra "headband, turban," earlier a piece of armor worn about the waist, from PIE base *mei- "to tie" (cf. Skt. Mitrah, O.Pers. Mithra-, god names; Rus. mir "world, peace," Gk. mitos "a warp thread"). In L., "a kind of headdress common among Asiatics, the wearing of which by men was regarded in Rome as a mark of effeminacy" [OED]. But the word was used in Vulgate to translate Heb. micnepheth "headdress of a priest."

miter (2) --- in the carpentry sense of "joint at a 45 degree angle," 1678, is perhaps from miter (1), via notion of joining of the two peaks of the folded cap.

Mithras --- Persian god of light, 1551, from L., from Gk. Mithras, from Avest. Mithra-, from Indo-Iranian *mitram "contract," whence *mitras "contractual partner, friend," conceptualized as a god, or, according to Kent, first the epithet of a divinity and eventually his name; from PIE base *mei- "to bind" (see miter (1)). Related to Skt. Mitrah, a Vedic deity associated with Varuna. "His name is one of the earliest Indic words we possess, being found in clay tablets from Anatolia dating to about 1500 B.C." [Calvert Watkins, "Dictionary of Indo-European Roots," 2000].

mitigate --- 1432, from L. mitigatus, pp. of mitigare "make mild or gentle," ult. from mitis "gentle, soft" + root of agere "do, make, act" (see act). First element is from PIE base *mei- "soft, mild." Mitigation is attested from 1362.

mitochondria --- 1901, from Ger., coined 1898 by microbiologist Carl Benda (1857-1933), from Gk. mitos "thread" + khondrion "little granule."

mitosis --- 1887, coined from Gk. mitos "warp thread" (see miter (1)) + Mod.L. -osis "act, process." Term introduced by Ger. anatomist Walther Fleming (1843-1905) in 1882. So called because chromatin of the cell nucleus appears as long threads in the first stages.

mitt --- 1765, shortened form of mitten (q.v.). Baseball sense is from 1902. Slang sense of "hand" is from 1896.

mitten --- c.1386, from O.Fr. mitaine "mitten, half-glove," from O.Fr. mite "mitten," and from M.L. mitta, perhaps from M.H.G. mittemo, O.H.G. mittamo "middle, midmost" (reflecting notion of "half-glove"), or from V.L. *medietana "divided in the middle," from L. medius (see medial).

Mitty --- adventurous daydreamer, 1950, from title character in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," James Thurber short story first published in the "New Yorker," March 18, 1939.

mitzvah --- Jewish rabbinical commandment, 1650, from Heb. mitzwah "commandment, precept," from base tziwwah "he commanded," related to Arabic wasa "he bound, united."

mix (v.) --- 1538, back-formation from M.E. myxte (c.1480), from Anglo-Fr. mixte, from L. mixtus, pp. of miscere "to mix," from PIE *meik- "to mix" (cf. Skt. misrah "mixed," Gk. misgein "to mix, mingle," O.C.S. meso, mesiti "to mix," Rus. meshat, Lith. maisau "to mix, mingle," Welsh mysgu). Also borrowed in O.E. as miscian. The noun is attested from c.1586. Mixer "troublemaker" is from 1938; in sense of "social gathering to mingle and get acquainted" it dates from 1916. Mixture is attested from c.1460, from L. mixtura, from mixtus. Slang mixologist "bartender" is from 1856. Mixed marriage is from 1698. Mixed bag "heterogeneous collection" is from 1936. Mixed up "confused" is from 1862; mix-up "confusion" first recorded 1898.

mizzen --- c.1415, from M.Fr. misaine "foresail, foremast," alt. by infl. of It. mezzana "mizzen" from O.Fr. migenne, from Catalan mitjana, from L. medianus "of the middle" (see median).

mnemonic (adj.) --- 1753, from Gk. mnemonikos "of or pertaining to memory," from mnemon (gen. mnemonos) "remembering, mindful," from mnasthai "remember," from PIE base *men- "to think" (see mind (n.)). The noun meaning "mnemonic device" is from 1858. Mnemonics "art of developing memory" is from 1721. Mnemosyne, lit. "memory, remembrance," was a titaness, mother of the Muses.

moa --- 1842, native Maori name.

moan --- c.1225, as a noun, "complaint, lamentation," probably related to O.E. mænan "complain, moan," also "tell, intend," from P.Gmc. *main- (but O.E.D. discounts this connection). Meaning "long, low inarticulate murmur from some prolonged pain" is first recorded 1673. The verb is first attested c.1425 as "to complain," 1724 as "to make a low, mournful sound."

moat --- 1362, from O.Fr. mote, from M.L. mota "mound, fortified height," probably from Gaul. mutt, mutta. Sense shifted in Norman Fr. from the castle mound to the ditch dug around it.

mob --- 1688, "disorderly part of the population, rabble," slang shortening of mobile, mobility "common people, populace, rabble" (1676), from L. mobile vulgus "fickle common people" (1600), from mobile, neut. of mobilis "fickle, movable, mobile," from movere "to move" (see move). In Australia and N.Z., used without disparagement for "a crowd." Meaning "gang of criminals working together" is from 1839, originally of thieves or pick-pockets; Amer.Eng. sense of "organized crime in general" is from 1927. The verb meaning "to attack in a mob" is attested from 1709. Mobster is first attested 1917. Mob scene "crowded place" first recorded 1922. Mobocracy "mob rule" is attested from 1754.

mob-cap --- a type of woman's indoor cap, 1795 (as simply mob, 1748), from obs. mob "a strumpet" (earlier mab, 1557) + cap. The first element is related to obs. verb mob "to tousle the hair, to dress untidily" (1664), and perhaps ult. from mop but infl. by Mab as a fem. name. Du. has a similar compound, mopmuts, but the relationship between it and the Eng. word is uncertain.

mobile (adj.) --- 1490, from M.Fr. mobile, from L. mobilis "movable," from movere "to move" (see move). The noun is early 15c. in astronomy; the artistic sense is first recorded 1949 as a shortening of mobile sculpture (1936). Mobile home first recorded 1940. The city in Alabama is unrelated, first recorded c.1540 in Sp. as Mauvila, referring to an Indian group and perhaps from Choctaw (Muskogean) moeli "to paddle."

mobilize --- 1838, from Fr. mobiliser, from mobile "movable" (see mobile). Military sense of "call up troops" first attested 1853.

Möbius strip --- 1904, named for Ger. mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius (1790-1868), who invented it.

moccasin --- 1612, from an Algonquian language of Virginia, probably Powhatan makasin "shoe" (cognate with Ojibwa makizin, Narragansett mokussin, Micmac m'kusun). The venomous snake of southern U.S. is perhaps a different word.

mocha --- 1733, from Mocha, Red Sea port of Yemen, from which coffee was exported. Meaning "mixture of coffee and chocolate" first recorded 1849. As a shade of dark brown, it is attested from 1895.

mock (v) --- c.1440, from M.Fr. mocquer "deride, jeer," from O.Fr., perhaps from V.L. *muccare "to blow the nose" (as a derisive gesture), from L. mucus; or possibly from M.Du. mocken "to mumble" or M.L.G. mucken "grumble." Replaced O.E. bysmerian. Sense of "imitating," as in mocking-bird (1676) and mock turtle (1763), is from notion of derisive imitation. The adj. is 1548, from the noun. Mockery is attested from 1426. Mock-up "model, simulation" is from 1920.

mod --- tidy, sophisticated teen (usually contrasted with rocker), 1960, slang shortening of modern.

modal --- 1569, term in logic, from M.Fr. modal, from M.L. modalis "of or pertaining to a mode," from L. modus "measure, manner, mode." Musical sense is from 1597.

mode (1) --- manner, c.1374, "kind of musical scale," from L. modus "measure, rhythm, song, manner" (in L.L. also "mood" in grammar and logic), from PIE base *med-/*met- "to measure, limit, consider, advise, take appropriate measures" (cf. L. meditari "to think or reflect upon, consider," mederi "to look after, heal, cure;" O.E. metan "to measure out," Gk. medein "to rule"). Meaning "manner in which a thing is done" first recorded 1667.

mode (2) --- current fashion, c.1645, from Fr. mode, from L. modus "manner" (see mode (1)).

model --- 1575, "architect's set of designs," from M.Fr. modelle (Fr. modèle), from It. modello "a model, mold," from V.L. *modellus, dim. of L. modulus "measure, standard," dim. of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (1)). Sense of "thing or person to be imitated" is 1639. Meaning "motor vehicle of a particular design" is from 1900 (e.g. Model T, 1909). Sense of "artist's model" is first recorded 1691; that of "fashion model" is from 1904. The verb is 1665 in the sense of "fashion in clay or wax;" 1915 in the sense "to act as a model, to display (clothes)." The adj. is 1844, from the noun.

modem --- 1958, coined from mo(dulator) + dem(odulator).

moderate (adj.) --- 1398, from L. moderatus, pp. of moderari "to regulate." Related to modus "measure" (see mode (1)), hence, "keeping within due measure." The verb is attested from 1432 in the sense "to abate excessiveness;" meaning "to preside over a debate" is first attested 1577.

moderation --- 1437, from M.Fr. moderation, from L. moderationem (nom. moderatio) "moderating," from moderatus (see moderate (adj.)).

moderator --- 1398, "ruler, governor," from L. moderator "manager, ruler, director," lit. "he who moderates," from moderatus (see moderate (adj.)). Meaning "one who acts as an umpire" is from c.1560.

modern --- of or pertaining to present or recent times, 1500, from M.Fr. moderne, from L.L. modernus "modern," from L. modo "just now, in a (certain) manner," from modo "to the measure," abl. of modus "manner, measure" (see mode (1)). In Shakespeare, often with a sense of "every-day, ordinary, commonplace." Slang abbreviation mod first attested 1960. Modern art is from 1849; modern dance first attested 1912; first record of modern jazz is from 1955. Modern conveniences first recorded 1926. Modernize is from 1748 (implied in modernized).

modernism --- as a movement in the arts, 1929, from modern (q.v.). The word dates to 1737 in the sense of "deviation from the ancient and classical manner" [Johnson, who calls it "a word invented by Swift"]. It has been used in theology since 1901.

modesty --- 1531, "freedom from exaggeration, self-control," from M.Fr. modestie, from L. modestia "moderation," from modestus "moderate, keeping measure, sober," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Meaning "having a moderate opinion of oneself" is from 1553. Modest (adj.) is first recorded 1565.

modicum --- small quantity or portion, c.1470, from Scottish, from L. modicum "a little," neut. of modicus "moderate," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)).

modify --- c.1386, from O.Fr. modifier, from L. modificare "to limit, restrain," from modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)) + root of facere "to make" (see factitious).

modular --- 1798, as a term in mathematics, from Mod.L. modularis, from modulus "small measure" (see module). Meaning "composed of interchangeable units" first recorded 1936.

modulation --- 1398, "act of singing or making music," from O.Fr. modulation "act of making music," from L. modulationem (nom. modulatio) "rhythmical measure, singing and playing, melody," from modulatus, pp. of modulari "regulate, measure off properly," from modulus (see module). Meaning "act of regulating according to measure or proportion" is from 1531. Musical sense of "action of process of changing key" is first recorded 1696.

module --- 1586, "allotted measure," from M.Fr. module, from L. modulus "small measure," dim. of modus "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Meaning "interchangeable part" first recorded 1955; that of "separate section of a spacecraft" is from 1961.

modus --- way in which anything is done, 1648, from L., lit. "measure, manner" (see mode (1)). Esp. in modus operandi (1654) "way of doing or accomplishing" and modus vivendi (1879) "way of living or getting along."

Mogen David --- 1904, "star of David," six-pointed star, symbol of Judaism or Zionism, from Heb. maghen Dawidh "shield of David," king of Judah and Israel, died c.973 B.C.E.

mogul (1) --- powerful person, 1678, from Great Mogul, Mongol emperor of India after the conquest of 1526, from Pers. and Arabic mughal, mughul, alt. of Mongol (q.v.), the Asiatic people.

mogul (2) --- elevation on a ski slope, 1961, probably from Scand. (cf. dial. Norw. mugje, fem. muga, "a heap, a mound"), or from southern Ger. dial. mugel in the same sense.

mohair --- 1570, "fine hair of the Angora goat," also "a fabric made from this," from M.Fr. mocayart, It. mocaiarro, both from Arabic mukhayyar "cloth of goat hair," lit. "selected, choice," from khayyana "he chose." Spelling infl. in Eng. by association with hair. Moire "watered silk" (1660) probably represents Eng. mohair borrowed into Fr. and back into English.

Mohammedan --- see Muhammad.

Mohave --- 1831, from native name, from aha "water" + makave "beside," in ref. to Colorado River.

Mohawk --- haircut style favored by punk rockers, c.1975, from fancied resemblance to hair style of Mohawk Indians. The style of cut earlier was called a Mohican (1960). The tribe is Iroquoian; the name, first recorded in Eng. as the pl. Mohowawogs (1638), is said to mean "they eat living things" in a southern New England Algonquian tongue, probably a ref. to cannibalism. Cf. Unami Delaware /muhuwe:yck/ "cannibal monsters." The people's name for themselves is kanye'keha:ka. Variant form Mohoc was the name given 1711 to gangs of aristocratic London ruffians.

Mohican --- from Mahican (Algonquian) ma:hi:kan "people of the tidal estuary." Spelling with -o- popularized by James Fenimore Cooper's novel.

moiety --- 1444, from O.Fr. meitiet, from L. medietas "half," from medius "middle" (see medial).

moil --- to labour in the mire [Johnson], c.1400, possibly from O.Fr. mouiller "to wet, moisten," from V.L. *molliare, from L. molis "soft."

Moira --- one of the Fates, from Gk. Moira, lit. "share, fate," related to moros "fate, destiny, doom," meros "part, lot," meiresthai "to receive one's share."

moire (n.) --- watered silk, 1660, from Fr.; see mohair. As an adj., moiré "having the appearance of watered silk," it is attested from 1823.

moist --- c.1374, from O.Fr. moiste "damp," from V.L. *muscidus "moldy," also "wet," from L. mucidus "slimy, moldy, musty," from mucus "slime" (see mucus). Alternate etymology is from L. musteus "fresh, green, new," lit. "like new wine," from musteum "new wine" (see must (n.1)). If this wasn't the source, it influenced the form of the other word in O.Fr. Moisture is attested from 1366.

mojo --- 1920s, probably of Creole origin, cf. Gullah moco "witchcraft," Fula moco'o "medicine man."

mola --- type of fish, 1678, from L., lit. "millstone." So called because of the fish's shape and rough skin.

molar --- grinding tooth, 1541, from L. molaris dens "grinding tooth," from mola "millstone," from PIE base *mel- "to rub, grind" (see mill (1)).

molasses --- 1582, from Port. melaço, from L.L. mellaceum "new wine," properly the neut. of mellaceus "resembling honey," from L. mel (gen. mellis) "honey." Adopted in Eng. in plural form, but regarded as a singular noun.

mold (1) --- hollow shape, 12c., metathesized from O.Fr. modle (Fr. moule), from L. modulum (nom. modulus) "measure, model," dim. of modus "manner" (see mode (1)). To break the mold "render impossible the creation of another" is from 1566.

mold (2) --- fungus, c.1425, probably from moulde, pp. of moulen "to grow moldy" (c.1225), related to O.N. mygla "grow moldy," from P.Gmc. *mug- Or it may have evolved from (or been influenced by) O.E. molde "loose earth" (see mold (3)).

mold (3) --- loose earth, O.E. molde "earth," from P.Gmc. *mulda (cf. O.Fris. molde, O.N. mold "earth," O.H.G. molta "dust, earth," Goth. mulda "dust"), from PIE base *mel- "to rub, grind" (see meal (2)). Specifically, in late (Christian) O.E., "the earth of the grave."

molder (v.) --- to crumble away, 1531, probably freq. of mold (3) "loose earth."

mole (1) --- spot on skin, O.E. mal "spot, mark," especially on cloth or linen, from P.Gmc. *mailan "spot, mark" (cf. O.H.G. meil, Ger. Mal, Goth. mail "wrinkle"), from PIE base *mei-/*mai- "to stain, defile" (cf. Gk. miainein "to stain, defile," see miasma). Of human skin, attested from 1398.

mole (2) --- burrowing mammal, 1398, probably from obsolete mouldwarp, lit. "earth-thrower" (common Gmc., cf. O.S. moldwerp, O.H.G. multwurf), from to O.E. molde "earth, soil" (see mold (3)) + weorpan "to throw away" (see warp). Spy sense first recorded 1974 in John le Carré, from notion of "burrowing." Metaphoric use for "one who works in darkness" is from 1601.

mole (3) --- breakwater, 1548, from M.Fr. môle "breakwater," from L. moles "mass, massive structure, barrier," from PIE base *mo- "to exert oneself."

mole (4) --- unit of molecular quantity, 1902, from Ger. Mol (1900), short for Molekül (see molecule).

molecule --- 1794, "extremely minute particle," from Fr. molécule (1678), from Mod.L. molecula, dim. of L. moles "mass, barrier" (see mole (3)). A vague meaning at first; the vogue for the word (used until late 18c. only in Latin form) can be traced to the philosophy of Descartes. First used in modern scientific sense by Amedeo Avogadro (1811). Molecular biology first attested 1950.

molest --- c.1374, "to cause trouble, grief, or vexation," from O.Fr. molester (12c.), from L. molestare "to disturb, trouble, annoy," from molestus "troublesome," perhaps related to moles "mass" (see mole (3)) on notion of either "burden" or "barrier." Meaning "sexually assault" first attested 1950. Molestation meant "the harassing of a person in his possession or occupation of lands" in Scot. law from 1456; in Eng. common law it came to mean "injury inflicted upon another."

moll --- 1567, female name, shortened form of Molly, itself familiar for Mary. Used from 1604 for "prostitute;" meaning "companion of a thief" is first recorded 1823. U.S. sense of "a gangster's girlfriend" is from 1923.

mollify --- c.1386 (implied in mollification), "to soften (a substance)," from O.Fr. mollifier, from L. mollificare "make soft, mollify" from mollificus "softening," from L. mollis "soft" + root of facere "to make" (see factitious). Transf. sense of "soften in temper, appease, pacify" is recorded from c.1412.

mollusk --- 1783, from Fr. mollusque, from Mod.L. Mollusca, order name, adopted by Linnæus 1758 from L. mollusca, neut. pl. of molluscus "thin-shelled," from mollis "soft," from PIE base *mel-/*mol-/*ml- "grind." Linnæus applied the word to a heterogeneous group of invertebrates, not originally including mollusks with shells; the modern scientific use is after a classification proposed 1790s by Cuvier.

Molly Maguire --- secret society in the mining districts of Pennsylvania, 1867 (suppressed 1876); named for earlier secret society formed in Ireland (1843) to resist payment of rents. From Molly (see Moll) + common Irish surname Maguire.

mollycoddle --- 1833, originally a noun, "one who coddles himself," from Molly (pet name formation from Mary), used contemptuously from 1754 for "a milksop, an effeminate man" + coddle (q.v.). The verb is 1870, from the noun.

Moloch --- Canaanite god said to have been propitiated by sacrificing children (Lev. xviii.21), 1661, from L., from Gk. Molokh, from Heb. molekh, from melekh "king," altered by the Jews with the vowel points from basheth "shame."

Molotov cocktail --- 1940, from Russo-Finnish War (used and satirically named by the Finns), from Molotov (from Rus. molot "hammer") name taken by Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Skriabin (1890-1986), Soviet minister of foreign affairs 1939-1949.

molt (v.) --- 1340, mouten, of feathers, "to be shed," from O.E. (be)mutian "to exchange," from L. mutare "to change" (see mutable). Trans. sense, of birds, "to shed feathers" is first attested 1530. With parasitic -l-, late 16c., on model of fault, etc.

molten --- c.1290, archaic pp. of O.E. meltian, a class III strong verb (see melt).

moly --- 1576, fabulous herb with white flowers and black root, with magical properties, given by Hermes to Odysseus as protection against Circe's sorcery.

molybdenum --- metallic element, 1816, from Gk. molybdos "lead," related to L. plumbum "lead," and like it probably borrowed from a lost Mediterranean language, perhaps Iberian. The element so called because of its resemblance to lead ore.

mom --- 1894, Amer.Eng., see mamma. Adjectival phrase mom and pop dates from 1951.

moment --- 1340, "very brief portion of time, instant," in moment of time, from O.Fr. moment, from L. momentum "movement, moving power," also "instant, importance," contraction of *movimentum, from movere "to move" (see move). Some (but not O.E.D.) explain the sense evolution of the L. word by notion of a particle so small it would just "move" the pointer of a scale, which led to the transf. sense of "minute time division." Sense of "importance, 'weight' " is attested in Eng. from 1522. Momentous formed 1656 in Eng., to carry the sense of "important" while momentary (1526) kept the meaning "of an instant of time." Phrase never a dull moment first recorded 1889 in Jerome K. Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat." Phrase moment of truth first recorded 1932 in Hemingway's "Death in the Afternoon," from Sp. el momento de la verdad, the final sword-thrust in a bull-fight.

momentum --- 1699, "quantity of motion of a moving body," from L. momentum "movement, moving power" (see moment). Fig. use dates from 1782.

momma --- 1884, Amer.Eng. variant of mamma (q.v.). Alternate form mommy first recorded 1902; mommy track first attested 1987.

momus --- humorously disagreeable person, 1563, from L., from Gk. Momos, god of ridicule (Gk. momos); also used in Eng. as personification of fault-finding and captious criticism.

momzer --- contemptible person, moocher, 1562, from Hebrew, lit. "bastard" (used in Vulgate), but modern usage is a recent borrowing from Yiddish.

Mona --- fem. proper name, from Ir. Muadhnait, lit. dim. of muadh "noble."

Mona Lisa --- 1923, in ref. to an enigmatic smile or expression, one like that in Leonardo DaVinci's painting. First attested in D.H. Lawrence.

monad --- unity, arithmetical unit, 1615, from L. monas (gen. monadis), from Gk. monas "unit," from monos "alone" (see mono-). In Leibnitz's philosophy, "an ultimate unit of being" (1748).

monarchy --- rule by one person, c.1390, from O.Fr. monarchie, from L.L. monarchia, from Gk. monarkhia "absolute rule," lit. "ruling of one," from monos "alone" (see mono-) + arkhein "to rule." Meaning "a state ruled by monarchical government" is from c.1430; monarch is from c.1450; monarchist first attested 1647.

monastery --- c.1420 (implied in monasterical), from O.Fr. monastere, from L.L. monasterium, from Late Gk. monasterion "a monastery," from monazein "to live alone," from monos "alone" (see mono-). With suffix -terion "place for (doing something)." Originally applied to houses of any religious order, male or female.