mischieve

English

Alternative forms

• myscheve (14th-15th centuries)

Etymology

From Old French meschever, from mes- + chever.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈtʃiːv/

Verb

mischieve (third-person singular simple present mischieves, present participle mischieving, simple past and past participle mischieved)

1. (obsolete) To destroy.
2. (now Scotland) To damage, do harm to; to injure.
   • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xj”, in Le Morte Darthur, book IX (in Middle English):

     thenne sire Tristram wold make no lenger delayes but lasshed at sir Lamorak / & thus they foughte longe / […] / Thenne sir Tristram seid to sir Lamorak in alle my lyf mette I neuer with suche a knyght that was soo bygge and well brethed as ye be / therfore said syre Tristram hit were pyte / that ony of vs both shold here be meschyeued

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 1650, Moses his choice, with his eye fixed upon heaven, page 54:

     I have read of Augustine, that once by wandring out of his way, he escaped one who lay in wait to mischieve him;