mighty

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmaɪti/ (UK); /ˈmaɪti/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old English mihtig (“mighty, powerful”), earlier mæhtig,^[2][3] from Proto-Germanic *mahtiga-,^[2] formed from miht, might, and -ig, -y.^[3][4] Its cognates include Old Saxon mahtig, Dutch machtig and German mächtig.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Possessed of might, said of God, rulers and nations, and of persons with physical or mental strength: about 825.^[5]

Semantic evolution

Of drugs, liquors or spells, potent, it is from about 1000,^[5] and of things or forces from about 1250.^[5] Of persons powerful through wealth or position it is from about 1375.^[5] As an adverb, very, exceedingly, it is from about 1300 and is now colloquial.^[2][6] Might itself was an adjective in Old and Middle English, powerful, great,^[2] and Middle English had a verb mighten, to strengthen.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 825 – powerful.^[5]
• c. 1000 – of drugs, potent.^[5]
• c. 1300 – the adverb.^[2]
• c. 1375 – of wealthy persons.^[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Having or showing great power, strength or force.
2. Very large or impressive: a mighty river.

Adverb

1. (informal) Very; extremely: mighty glad.

Word family

• mightiness
• mightily
• overmighty
• high and mighty

Related words

• might
• almighty
• may
• main

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin