mess English · revision 5069

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=a. 1300|origins=la mittere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /mes/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mes]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|mes|t=portion of food, prepared dish, course at dinner]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la-lat|missus|t=course at dinner]], literally “a placing, a putting” on the table,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from the past participle of Latin [[m|la|mittere|t=to put, place]], in classical Latin “to send, let go”.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[mission]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) Modern French writes the word mets, influenced by mettre “to place”.^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A serving of food, a course or a prepared dish: before 1300 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably before 1300 in Barnhart, in Arthour and Merlin.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A group of people who eat together is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline) originally a group of four;^(Etymonline)^(Trench 1859) at the Inns of Court a mess still consisted of four in the 19th century.^(Trench 1859) The phrase ''mess of pottage'', after Esau's sale of his birthright in Genesis, is found about 1452.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) In the 15th century a mess was especially a liquid or pulpy food,^(Barnhart 1988) and mixed food for animals is from 1738, in Pope;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) this probably led to the contemptuous sense “a jumble, a mixed mass” (1828)^(Etymonline) and to the figurative “state of confusion” (1834) and “condition of untidiness” (1851).^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) A place where soldiers or sailors eat is from the 19th century, as in ''mess hall'' (by 1832).^(Etymonline) The verb first meant to serve up food (1381 in Barnhart, late 14th century in Etymonline);^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) to take one's meals in company is from 1701,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to make dirty or untidy from 1853.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Mess with'', to interfere, is by 1903, and ''mess up'', to make a mistake, from 1933, both originally American colloquial.^(Etymonline) ''Messy'' is from 1843.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1300 – a serving of food.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1381 – verb, to serve food.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * early 15th century – a company eating together.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1452 – ''mess of pottage''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1701 – verb, to take meals together.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1738 – mixed food for animals.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1834 – a state of confusion.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1851 – an untidy condition.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1853 – verb, to make untidy.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1903 – ''mess with''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1933 – ''mess up'', to make a mistake.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A dirty or untidy state, or an untidy [[heap]] of things.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A confused or troubled situation; a [[muddle]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A group of people who regularly eat together, especially in the [[armed forces]], or the place where they eat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(archaic)'' A portion of food, especially soft or liquid food.^(Collins 2023)^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To make dirty or untidy; to botch.^(AHD)

+ # To eat in a mess as one of its members.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''mess with'': to interfere or meddle with.^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[messy]]

+ * [[mess-up]]

+ * [[messroom]]

+ * [[messmate]]

+ * [[mess around]]

+ * [[mess over]]

+ * [[mess hall]]

+ * [[mess jacket]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mission]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}