mildew English · revision 806

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈmɪl.djuː/ ''(UK)''; /ˈmɪl.d(j)u/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|mildeu]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) [[inh|ang|mildēaw]], ''meledēaw'' “honeydew, nectar”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) a Proto-Germanic compound of ''*meliþ'' “honey” (as in Gothic ''miliþ'') and ''*dawwaz'' “dew” (see [[dew]]).^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Similar formations are Old Saxon ''milidou'' and Old High German ''militou''.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) In Old English and in continental forms such as German ''Mehltau'' the first element was assimilated to the word for “meal, ground grain”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Honeydew, the sticky, sugary substance found on plants (before 1000 in the OED; mildeu about 1225 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==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.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) It was later applied to similar fungal growths and discolorations on cloth, paper and leather exposed to damp.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The verb, to taint with mildew, appears in 1552 (implied in ''mildewed'').^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1000 – Old English ''mildēaw'', honeydew.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1340 – a fungal growth on plants.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1552 – verb, to taint with mildew.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1651 – verb, to become mildewed.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Any of various [[fungus|alt=fungi]] that form a superficial, usually whitish growth on plants and organic matter.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # A coating or discoloration of cloth, paper, leather and the like caused by such fungi, especially in damp conditions.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A plant disease caused by such fungi, as [[downy mildew]] or [[powdery mildew]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To affect or become affected with mildew.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[mildewy]]

+ * [[unmildewed]]

+ * [[mildewcide]]

+ * [[mildewproof]]

+ * [[powdery mildew]]

+ * [[downy mildew]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dew]]

+ * [[honeydew]]

+ * [[mellifluous]]

+ * [[mould]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}