mildew

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmɪl.djuː/ (UK); /ˈmɪl.d(j)u/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English mildeu,^[2][3] inherited from Old English mildēaw, meledēaw “honeydew, nectar”,^{[4][2][3][5][6]} a Proto-Germanic compound of *meliþ “honey” (as in Gothic miliþ) and *dawwaz “dew” (see dew).^[2][3][6] Similar formations are Old Saxon milidou and Old High German militou.^[2][3][5][6] In Old English and in continental forms such as German Mehltau the first element was assimilated to the word for “meal, ground grain”.^[2][3][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

Honeydew, the sticky, sugary substance found on plants (before 1000 in the OED; mildeu about 1225 in Barnhart).^[7][2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word was transferred from honeydew to the minute fungus that forms a whitish coating on plants and decaying matter (1340), presumably because of its sticky look and its growth on plants.^[7][2][3][6] It was later applied to similar fungal growths and discolorations on cloth, paper and leather exposed to damp.^[4][5][8] The verb, to taint with mildew, appears in 1552 (implied in mildewed).^[7][2][3]

Timeline

• before 1000 – Old English mildēaw, honeydew.^[7][2]
• 1340 – a fungal growth on plants.^[7][2]
• 1552 – verb, to taint with mildew.^[7][2]
• 1651 – verb, to become mildewed.^[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Any of various fungi that form a superficial, usually whitish growth on plants and organic matter.
2. A coating or discoloration of cloth, paper, leather and the like caused by such fungi, especially in damp conditions.
3. A plant disease caused by such fungi, as downy mildew or powdery mildew.

Verb

1. To affect or become affected with mildew.

Word family

• mildewy
• unmildewed
• mildewcide
• mildewproof
• powdery mildew
• downy mildew

Related words

• dew
• honeydew
• mellifluous
• mould

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
5. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b c d e Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ 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
8. ^ Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House