mite

mite
{{11}}mite (n.1) "tiny animal, minute arachnid," O.E. mite, from P.Gmc. *miton (Cf. M.Du. mite, Du. mijt, O.H.G. miza, Dan. mide) originally meaning perhaps "the cutter," in reference to its bite, from P.Gmc. *mait- (Cf. Goth. maitan, O.H.G. meizen "to cut"), from PIE root *mai- "to cut" (see MAIM (Cf. maim)). Or else its original sense is "something small," and it is from PIE *mei- "small," in reference to size (see MINUS (Cf. minus)).
{{12}}mite (n.2) "little bit," mid-14c., from M.Du. or M.L.G. mite "tiny animal," from P.Gmc. *miton-, from PIE *mei- "small" (see MINUS (Cf. minus)), and thus probably identical with mite (n.1). Also the name of a medieval Flemish copper coin of very small value, proverbial in English 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. French mite (14c.) is a loan-word from Dutch.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • mité — mité …   Dictionnaire des rimes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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