mischief

[mis-chif] /ˈmɪs tʃɪf/
noun
1.
conduct or activity that playfully causes petty annoyance.
2.
a tendency or disposition to tease, vex, or annoy.
3.
a vexatious or annoying action.
4.
harm or trouble, especially as a result of an agent or cause.
5.
an injury or evil caused by a person or other agent or cause.
6.
a cause or source of harm, evil, or annoyance.
7.
the devil.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English meschef < Old French, noun derivative of meschever to end badly, come to grief. See mis-1, achieve
Synonyms
4. hurt. See damage.
Examples from the web for mischief
  • He did not cause any damage and he is no longer capable of doing mischief to the state government.
  • Camera-equipped cell phones spread new brands of mischief.
  • Anderson pleaded no contest to a charge of criminal mischief in the fourth degree.
  • This farce of romantic mischief is delightfully sung by the fine Italian company.
  • Scoundrels were bound to find the weaknesses and exploit them for mischief or, worse, for criminal gain.
  • The smaller country's internal divisions seem an invitation to mischief.
  • For more mischief has probably been wrought in the world by honest fools in high places than by intelligent rascals.
  • His directorial debut comes packed with the usual existential despair, absurdist humor, and intellectual mischief.
  • His intellectual mischief-making may have been tasteless, but it was not rancorous; there was a playful, good-humoured streak.
  • After all, insiders committed to mischief can take routes around these systems.
British Dictionary definitions for mischief

mischief

/ˈmɪstʃɪf/
noun
1.
wayward but not malicious behaviour, usually of children, that causes trouble, irritation, etc
2.
a playful inclination to behave in this way or to tease or disturb
3.
injury or harm caused by a person or thing
4.
a person, esp a child, who is mischievous
5.
a source of trouble, difficulty, etc: floods are a great mischief to the farmer
Word Origin
C13: from Old French meschief disaster, from meschever to meet with calamity; from mes-mis-1 + chever to reach an end, from chef end, chief
Word Origin and History for mischief
n.

c.1300, "evil condition, misfortune, need, want," from Old French meschief "misfortune, harm, trouble; annoyance, vexation" (12c., Modern French méchef), verbal noun from meschever "come or bring to grief, be unfortunate" (opposite of achieve), from mes- "badly" (see mis- (2)) + chever "happen, come to a head," from Vulgar Latin *capare "head," from Latin caput "head" (see capitulum). Meaning "harm or evil considered as the work of some agent or due to some cause" is from late 15c. Sense of "playful malice" first recorded 1784.

Mischief Night in 19c. England was the eve of May Day and of Nov. 5, both major holidays, and perhaps the original point was pilfering for the next day's celebration and bonfire; but in Yorkshire, Scotland, and Ireland the night was Halloween. The useful Middle English verb mischieve (early 14c.) has, for some reason, fallen from currency.

Idioms and Phrases with mischief

mischief

see: make mischief