mite

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of numerous minute arachnids, many of which live as parasites on animals or plants

   The veterinarian found a mite in the skin sample taken from the dog's ear.

2. 2
   noun

   a very small amount or degree

   The soup tasted a mite too salty after it had reduced.

3. 3
   noun

   a small, weak, or pitiable person or creature, especially a child

   The tired little mite fell asleep before the nurse finished the story.

4. 4
   noun

   a coin or contribution of very small value, now chiefly in the phrase a widow's mite

   Although she had little money, she still offered her mite to the relief fund.

The arachnid sense descends from Old English mite, probably from a Germanic base meaning either "cutter" (from its bite) or "small thing." The small-amount and small-coin senses came through Middle English from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German mite, the name of a tiny Flemish coin; the shared idea is extreme smallness.

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