mite

name

1. A minor river in Cumbria, England, which joins the Cumbrian Esk and River Irt near Ravenglass.

noun

Etymology: From Middle English mite, from Old English mīte (“mite, tiny insect”), from Proto-West Germanic *mītā, from Proto-Germanic *mītǭ (“biting insect”, literally “cutter”), from *maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“small”) or *meh₂y- (“to cut”). Akin to Old High German mīza (“mite”), Middle Dutch mīte (“moth, mite”), Dutch mijt (“moth, mite”), Danish mide (“mite”).

1. Any of many minute arachnids which, along with the ticks, comprise subclass Acari (syn. Acarina).
2. A small coin formerly circulated in England, rated at about a third of a farthing.

   “One mite wrung from the lab'rer's hands Shall buy and sell the miser's lands;”

3. A lepton, a small coin used in Judea in the time of Christ.
4. A small weight; one twentieth of a grain.
5. Anything very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle.

   “a mite”

   “It takes a thousand men to invent a telegraph, or a steam engine, or a phonograph, or a photograph, or a telephone or any other important thing — and the last man gets the credit and we forget the others. He added his little mite — that is all he did.”

6. A small or naughty person, or one people take pity on; rascal.

   “Today's children at Christmas-time take a cast-off toy to the Toy Service held in many churches, and it is a pretty sight to watch those tiny mites clutching their toys and parting from them.j”

   ““Tom told me that, but twasn't your fault, the little mite just couldn't wait to be born that's all.” A small smile played on Leah's lips.”

verb

Etymology: From Middle English mite, from Old English mīte (“mite, tiny insect”), from Proto-West Germanic *mītā, from Proto-Germanic *mītǭ (“biting insect”, literally “cutter”), from *maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *mey- (“small”) or *meh₂y- (“to cut”). Akin to Old High German mīza (“mite”), Middle Dutch mīte (“moth, mite”), Dutch mijt (“moth, mite”), Danish mide (“mite”).

1. Eye dialect spelling of might.