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Mischievously Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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mischievously

[ˈmɪs.tʃɪ.v.əs.li ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

behavioral manner

Mischievously refers to doing something in a playful but often troublesome or annoying way. It implies a sense of humor or playful intent behind actions that might be considered slightly naughty or impish.

Synonyms

impishly, naughtily, playfully, wickedly.

Examples of usage

  • The cat looked up mischievously after knocking the vase off the table.
  • He smiled mischievously, planning his next prank.
  • She acted mischievously during the meeting, making everyone laugh.
  • The children played mischievously in the backyard, creating a small mess.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'mischievously'

The word 'mischievously' has its roots in the Middle English word 'mischief', which comes from the Old French 'meschief', meaning 'misfortune' or 'ill-fate'. This, in turn, originated from the Latin 'mischiefium', stemming from 'miser' which means 'wretched'. Over time, the meaning evolved to describe playful or troublesome behavior rather than just misfortune. The adverb 'mischievously' emerged in the English language to describe actions carried out with a playful sense of mischief. The term has often been associated with children and pets, who exhibit such behavior when exploring their surroundings or testing boundaries. Its use in literature has captured the playful yet slightly naughty spirit of characters, confirming its position as a favored descriptor in both casual and literary contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,288, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.