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mischief

/ˈmɪsˌt͡ʃiːf/ noun

Latin root: caput Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about mischief at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others.
  2. The quality or nature of being harmful or evil.

Origin

From Middle English myschef, meschef, meschief, mischef, from Old French meschief, from meschever (“to bring to grief”), from mes- (“badly”) + chever (“happen; come to a head”), from Vulgar Latin *capare, from Latin caput (“head”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)