messy English · revision 15289

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1627}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɛsi/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|en|mess|-y]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Untidy, disordered or dirty: 1843 in the OED and Etymonline;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster dates it to 1627.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The figurative sense, morally dubious or unethical, is attested by 1924.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Messiness is from 1893.^(OED 1989) Unpleasantly difficult to settle, as ''a messy divorce'', is in modern dictionaries.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1627 – messy (Merriam-Webster).^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1843 – untidy.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1924 – unethical.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Dirty, untidy or disordered.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Careless or confused.^(AHD)

+ # Unpleasantly complicated or hard to resolve: ''a messy divorce''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[messily]]

+ * [[messiness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mess]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Kent, messy was used of creased or disordered clothes.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}