Mischievous

Mischievous

Adjective · /ˈmɪs.tʃɪ.vəs/

Definition

Causing or showing a fondness for causing minor trouble or annoyance, usually in a playful way; naughty; having a mischievous quality or intention; of a look, smile, or expression — suggesting playful wrongdoing or teasing.

Origin

From mischief + the adjectival suffix -ous (having the quality of, from Latin -osus). The word appears in English from the 14th century, initially with the serious meaning of causing harm or injury — mischievous being the adjective form of mischief when it still meant serious harm. As mischief ameliorated to mean playful naughtiness, mischievous followed. A common mispronunciation and misspelling adds a syllable — mis-CHEE-vee-ous — but the standard form has only three syllables: MIS-chih-vus.