GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   Mischief , n. [OE. meschef bad result, OF. meschief; pref. mes- (L. minus less) + chief end, head, F. chef chief. See Minus, and Chief.]
   1913 Webster
   Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport.
   Chaucer.
   
   1913 Webster
   Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs.
   Ps. lii. 2.
   
   1913 Webster
   The practice whereof shall, I hope, secure me from many mischiefs.
   Fuller.
   
   1913 Webster
   Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble.
   Milton.
   
   1913 Webster
   The mischief was, these allies would never allow that the common enemy was subdued.
   Swift.
   
   1913 Webster
   To be in mischief, to be doing harm or causing annoyance. -- To make mischief, to do mischief, especially by exciting quarrels. -- To play the mischief, to cause great harm; to throw into confusion. [Colloq.]
   1913 Webster
   Syn. -- Damage; harm; hurt; injury; detriment; evil; ill.  -- Mischief, Damage, Harm. Damage is an injury which diminishes the value of a thing; harm is an injury which causes trouble or inconvenience; mischief is an injury which disturbs the order and consistency of things.  We often suffer damage or harm from accident, but mischief always springs from perversity or folly.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

2.       
   Mischief, v. t. To do harm to. [Obs.]
   Milton.
   
   1913 Webster