Etymology dictionary

mutualistic (adj.) — myxo-

mutualistic (adj.)

"exhibiting or characteristic of mutualism," 1850, from mutualist "advocate of mutualism" (1848); see mutualism.

also muu-muu, "loose-fitting dress, usually of bright colors and patterns," 1923, from Hawaiian mu'u mu'u, literally "cut off," name given to the local adaptation of the dresses given to island women by the wives of early 19c. Christian missionaries "in the early days when a few flowers sufficed for a garment" [Don Blanding, "Hula Moons," 1930]. So called because the native style hangs from the shoulder and omits the high neck and the train.

Muzak (n.)

1935, proprietary name for piped music, supposedly a blend of music and Kodak, said to have been coined by Gen. George Squier (1865-1934), who, among his other important inventions, developed the system of background music for workplaces c. 1922.

muzzy (adj.)

"confused, dazed, stupid, tipsy," 1720s, perhaps from mossy, or from dialectal mosey (adj.) "moldy, hazy; stupefied with drink, dull, stupid."

muzzle (n.)

late 14c., mosel, "device put over an animal's mouth to stop it from biting, eating, or rooting," from Old French musel "muzzle," also "snout, nose" (12c., Modern French museau), from muse "muzzle," from Gallo-Roman *musa "snout" (source also of Provençal mus, Old Spanish mus, Italian muso), a word of unknown origin, possibly related to Latin morsus "bite" (but OED finds "serious difficulties" with this).

Meaning "projecting jaws and nose of the head of an animal" is from early 15c.; sense of "open end of a firearm" is recorded from 1560s. Muzzle-loader "gun loaded from the muzzle" (opposed to breech-loader) is by 1858.

muzzle (v.)

"to put a muzzle on, bind or confine the mouth of to prevent from biting or eating," early 15c., moselen, from muzzle (n.). Figurative use, "to gag, silence," is from 1610s. Related: Muzzled; muzzling.

mwah

sound indicative of a kiss or an air-kiss, 1994, imitative.

my (pron.)

"belonging to me," c. 1200, mi, reduced form of mine used before words beginning in consonants except h- (my father, but mine enemy), and from 14c. before all nouns. Always used attributively, mine being used for the predicate. As interjection, by 1825, probably a shortened form of my God!

myalgia (n.)

"muscular pain and tenderness," 1827, coined in Modern Latin (on analogy of neuralgia) from myo- "muscle" + -algia "pain." Related: Myalgic.

Myanmar

an old name for a part of Burma and a word for the country in native speech, officially chosen by the military rulers of Burma in 1989. Reasons given for the change include casting off a relic of colonialism, or downplaying the connection to the Burman ethnic majority.

myasthenia (n.)

"muscular weakness," 1856, medical Latin; see myo- "muscle" + asthenia "weakness." Related: Myasthenic.

Mycenaean

1590s, Mycenian, "pertaining to Mycenae," the ancient city on the Argive plain, from Latin Mycenaeus, from Greek Mykenaios "of Mycenae," from Mykenai. In reference to the Aegean civilization that flourished 1500-1100 B.C.E. and was centered on Mycenae, it is from 1890s.

-mycin

word-forming element in science, used to form names of antibiotic compounds derived from fungi, from Latinized form of Greek mykēs "fungus, mushroom" (see myco-).

myco-

before vowels myc-, word-forming element meaning "mushroom, fungus," formed irregularly from Latinized form of Greek mykēs "fungus, mushroom, anything shaped like a mushroom," a word of uncertain origin (Beekes doubts the traditional explanation that connects it to the source of mucus). The correct form is myceto- (mycet-).

mycology (n.)

"the study of fungi," 1822, from myco- + -logy. Related: Mycological; mycologist.

mycosis (n.)

"the presence of fungi as parasites in the body," 1841, from French (Jean-Louis Alibert, 1835); medical Latin; see myco- + -osis. Related: Mycotic.

myelin (n.)

also myeline, "soft material found in nerve tissues," 1867, from German Myelin (Virchow, 1854), from Greek myelos "marrow; the brain, innermost part," a word of unknown origin. Related: Myelitic.

myelo-

before vowels myel-, word-forming element meaning "marrow, spinal cord," from Greek myelos "marrow; the brain," a word of unknown origin.

myeloma (n.)

"tumor composed of bone-marrow cells," 1848, from Greek myelos "marrow" (a word of unknown origin) + -oma.

Mylar (n.)

proper name for a polyester film, 1954, trademarked by E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Co., Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A. Like many Du Pont names, it doesn't mean anything, they just liked the sound.

mynah (n.)

also mina, name given to various passerine birds of India and the East, 1769, from Hindi maina "a starling," from Sanskrit madana- "delightful, joyful," related to madati "it gladdens," literally "it bubbles," perhaps from PIE root *mad- "moist, wet" (see mast (n.2)). The "talking starling" of India is Eulabes religiosa.

myo-

before vowels my-, word-forming element meaning "muscle," from combining form of Greek mys "muscle," literally "mouse" (see muscle (n.)).

MYOB

also m.y.o.b., by 1846, American English slang, an abbreviation of mind your own business. Often in M.Y.O.B. Society, an imaginary organization which a too-inquisitive person would be invited to join.

myocardium (n.)

"muscular substance of the heart," 1866, from myo- "muscle" + Latinized form of Greek kardia "heart" (from PIE root *kerd- "heart"). Related: Myocardial; myocardiac; myocarditis.

myology (n.)

"the science of muscles," 1640s; see myo- + -logy. Related: Myologist; myological.

myomancy (n.)

1725, divination by the movements of mice, from Greek myo-, combining form of mys (see mouse (n.)) + -mancy "divination by means of." Related: Myomantic.

myope (n.)

"short-sighted person," 1728, from French myope "short-sighted" (16c.), from Late Latin myop-, from Greek myōps "short-sighted" (see myopia).

myopia (n.)

"short-sightedness," 1727, medical Latin, from Late Greek myōpia "near-sightedness," from myōps "near-sighted," literally "closing the eyes, blinking," on the notion of "squinting, contracting the eyes" (as near-sighted people do), from myein "to shut" (see mute (adj.)) + ōps (genitive ōpos) "eye" (from PIE root *okw- "to see"). By coincidence the name describes the problem: the parallel rays of light are brought to a focus before they reach the retina.

myopic (adj.)

"short-sighted," 1800, from myopia + -ic. Figurative use from 1891. Related: Myopical (1748); myopically.

myriad (n.)

1550s, "the number of 10,000," also "an indefinitely great number," from French myriade and directly from Late Latin myrias (genitive myriadis) "ten thousand," from Greek myrias (genitive myriados) "a number of ten thousand; countless numbers," from myrios (plural myrioi) "innumerable, countless, infinite; boundless," as a definite number, "ten thousand" ("the greatest number in Greek expressed by one word," Liddell & Scott say), of unknown origin; perhaps from PIE *meue- "abundant" (source also of Hittite muri- "cluster of grapes," Latin muto "penis," Middle Irish moth "penis"). Beekes offers "no etymology." The numerically specific use is usually in translations from Greek or Latin.

myriad (adj.)

"numberless, multitudinous," c. 1800, from myriad (n.).

myrmidon (n.)

one of a warlike people of ancient Thessaly, legendarily ruled by Achilles and accompanying him to Troy, c. 1400, from Latin Myrmidones (plural), from Greek Myrmidones, Thessalian tribe led by Achilles to the Trojan War, fabled to have been ants changed into men, and often derived from Greek myrmex "ant" (from PIE *morwi- (see Formica (2)), but Watkins does not connect them and Klein's sources suggest a connection to Greek mormos "dread, terror." Transferred sense of "faithful unquestioning follower," often with a suggestion of unscrupulousness, is from c. 1600.

myrrh (n.)

"gummy, resinous exudation of certain plants of Arabia and Ethiopia," used for incense, perfumery, etc., Middle English mirre, from Old French mirre (11c.) and also from Old English myrre, both the Old English and Old French words from Latin myrrha (source also of Dutch mirre, German Myrrhe, French myrrhe, Italian, Spanish mirra), from Greek myrrha, from a Semitic source (compare Akkadian murru, Hebrew mor, Arabic murr "myrrh"), from a root meaning "was bitter." The classical spelling restoration is from 16c.

myrtle (n.)

evergreen bush with fragrant white flowers, c. 1400, from Old French mirtile, from Medieval Latin myrtillus, diminutive of Latin myrtus "myrtle tree," from Greek myrtos "the myrtle, a sprig of myrtle," from same Semitic source as Greek myrrha (see myrrh). In ancient times it was sacred to Venus. The modern word is also applied to similar plants, some unrelated. Earlier Middle English forms were myrt, from Latin, and myrtine, from Medieval Latin myrtinus.

myself (pron.)

emphatic or reflexive form of I or me, c. 1500, mi-self, alteration of meself (c. 1200), from Old English phrase (ic) me self, where me is "a kind of ethical dative" [OED]. See my + self. The alteration from meself is by analogy of herself, where her- was felt as genitive (though analogous hisself remains bad form).

mysophobia (n.)

"morbid fear of contamination, dread of dirt or defilement," 1879, from Greek mysos "uncleanliness," which is of uncertain origin; perhaps from PIE *meus- "damp" (see moss) + -phobia.

MySpace

social networking Web site, founded in late 2003 and dominant from 2005 to 2009.

mystagogy

"interpretation of mysteries; the practice of a mystagogue," 1570s, from French mystagogie, from Latin mystagogia, from Greek mystagōgia "initiation into the mysteries," from mystagōgos "one who initiates into the mysteries" (see mystagogue). Related: Mystagoguery (1927).

mystagogue (n.)

"person who initiates into mysteries," 1550s, from Latin mystagogus "a guide to the mysteries," from Greek mystagōgos, from mystēs "one initiated into the mysteries" (see mystery (n.1)) + agōgos "leading, a leader," from agein "to lead" (from PIE root *ag- "to drive, draw out or forth, move"). Related: Mystagogic; mystagogical.

mystery (n.2)

"handicraft, trade, art" (archaic), late 14c., misterie, from Medieval Latin misterium, alteration of Latin ministerium "service, occupation, office, ministry" (see ministry), influenced in form by Medieval Latin mysterium (see mystery (n.1)) and in sense by maistrie "mastery." Now perhaps only in mystery play, in reference to the medieval performances, if they often were, as is often said, staged by members of craft guilds. The two senses of mystery formed a common pun in (secular) Tudor theater.

mystery (n.1)

early 14c., misterie, in a theological sense, "religious truth via divine revelation, hidden spiritual significance, mystical truth," from Anglo-French *misterie, Old French mistere "secret, mystery, hidden meaning" (Modern French mystère) and directly from Latin mysterium "secret rite, secret worship; a sacrament, a secret thing."

This is from Greek mystērion (usually in plural mysteria) "secret rite or doctrine (known and practiced by certain initiated persons only), consisting of purifications, sacrificial offerings, processions, songs, etc.," from mystēs "one who has been initiated," from myein "to close, shut" (see mute (adj.)); perhaps referring to the lips (in secrecy) or to the eyes (only initiates were allowed to see the sacred rites).

The Greek word was used in Septuagint for "secret counsel of God," translated in Vulgate as sacramentum. Non-theological use in English, "a hidden or secret thing; a fact, matter, etc., of which the meaning explanation, or cause is unknown," is from late 14c. In reference to the ancient rites of Greece, Egypt, etc. it is attested from 1640s. Meaning "detective story" is recorded by 1908. Mystery meat, slang for "unidentifiable meat served in a military mess, student dining hall, etc." is by 1949, probably from World War II armed services.

mysterious (adj.)

1610s, "full of mystery, obscure, not revealed or explained," from Latin mysterium (see mystery (n.1)) + -ous. Related: Mysteriously; mysteriousness. Earlier in same sense was mysterial (early 15c.), from Late Latin mysterialis.

Related: Mysteriously; mysteriousness.

mystical (adj.)

late 15c., "enigmatic, obscure, symbolic," from mystic + -al (1). Meaning "having spiritual significance" is from 1520s. Related: Mystically.

Mystic

place name in Connecticut, U.S., deformed from Algonquian missituk "great tidal river," from missi "large" + -tuk "tidal river."

mysticism (n.)

"any mode of thought or life in which reliance is placed upon a spiritual illumination believed to transcend ordinary powers of understanding," 1736, from mystic (adj.) + -ism. Often especially in a religious sense, and since the Enlightenment a term of reproach, implying self-delusion or dreamy confusion of thought.

mystic (adj.)

late 14c., mistike, "spiritually allegorical, pertaining to mysteries of faith," from Old French mistique "mysterious, full of mystery" (14c.), or directly from Latin mysticus "mystical, mystic, of secret rites" (source also of Italian mistico, Spanish mistico), from Greek mystikos "secret, mystic, connected with the mysteries," from mystes "one who has been initiated" (see mystery (n.1)).

Meaning "pertaining to occult practices or ancient religions" is recorded by 1610s. That of "hidden from or obscure to human knowledge or comprehension" is by 1630s.

mystic (n.)

"exponent of mystical theology, one who accepts or preaches some form of mysticism," 1670s, from mystic (adj.). In Middle English, the noun meant "symbolic meaning, interpretation" (early 14c.).

mystification (n.)

1814, "act of mystifying;" 1817, "state of being mystified," from French mystification, noun of action from mystifier (see mystify).

mystified (adj.)

"bewildered, puzzled," by 1847, past-participle adjective from mystify.

mystify (v.)

1798, "to make obscure, obscure the meaning of;" 1814, "perplex purposely," from French mystifier (1772), a verb formed irregularly from mystique "mysterious" (see mystic (adj.)) + -fier "to make" (see -fy). Related: Mystified; mystifying.

mystique (n.)

1891, "atmosphere of mystery and veneration," from French mystique "a mystic; mystical," from Latin mysticus (see mystic (adj.)).

myth (n.)

1830, from French mythe (1818) and directly from Modern Latin mythus, from Greek mythos "speech, thought, word, discourse, conversation; story, saga, tale, myth, anything delivered by word of mouth," a word of unknown origin. Beekes finds it "quite possibly Pre-Greek."

General sense of "untrue story, rumor, imaginary or fictitious object or individual" is from 1840.

mythical (adj.)

same as mythic; 1670s; see mythic + -al (1).

mythic (adj.)

1660s, "pertaining to or characterized by myths; existing only in myth," from Late Latin mythicus "legendary," from Greek mythikos, from mythos (see myth).

mythologize (v.)

c. 1600, "to make into a myth," from French mythologizer, from mythologie, from Late Latin mythologia (see mythology). From 1847 as "to render mythical." Related: Mythologized; mythologizing; mythologization.

mythology (n.)

early 15c., "exposition of myths, the investigation and interpretation of myths," from Late Latin mythologia, from Greek mythologia "legendary lore, a telling of mythic legends; a legend, story, tale," from mythos "myth" (a word of unknown origin; see myth) + -logia (see -logy "study"). Meaning "a body or system of myths" is recorded by 1781.