mischief
part of speech
noun (mischief — uncountable)
meaning for a pupil
1) Mischief is naughty behaviour that is usually playful and not very harmful, like playing tricks. tree →
2) Mischief can also mean harm or trouble caused on purpose. tree →
3) A wish to tease or play tricks, as in "a look of mischief". tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: The Israelite foremen see that they are in trouble because Pharaoh has made their work harder. In the primary lessons: In stories, children and animals "get up to mischief"; it tells the reader the character is cheeky and fun but causes trouble. In everyday life parents warn children to keep out of mischief. In the UK "Mischief Night" is a night of pranks in some places. Phrases: "get up to mischief", "keep out of mischief", "make mischief", "full of mischief", "a twinkle of mischief".
examples
- And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were set on mischief, when they said: 'Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily task.' (Torah EXO.5.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and beholdest mischief? (Prophets HAB.1.3, JPS 1917) tree →
- For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. (Writings PRO.24.2, JPS 1917) tree →
- They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity, and their belly prepareth deceit. (Writings JOB.15.35, JPS 1917) tree →
- The puppy got into mischief and chewed my slippers. tree →
- Grandma gave us jobs to keep us out of mischief. tree →
- His eyes were full of mischief as he hid the teacher's chalk. tree →
- The twins are always up to mischief. tree →
- The goblins made mischief in the village every night. tree →
- She gave me a look of mischief before pouring water on Dad. tree →
- (formal) The rumours were spread to make mischief between the two families. tree →
- His hands are always kept in mischief. tree →
note
Uncountable: you say "some mischief", not "a mischief" or "mischiefs". Spelled "mischief", with -ief. The adjective is "mischievous", pronounced MIS-chi-vus with three syllables; saying "mis-CHEE-vee-us" with an extra syllable is a common mistake.
In the corpora
- And Samson said unto them: 'This time shall I be quits with the Philistines, when I do them a mischief.'
- And David knew that Saul devised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest: 'Bring hither the ephod.'
- Why dost Thou show me iniquity, and beholdest mischief?
- Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; yea, he conceiveth mischief, and bringeth forth falsehood.
- His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violence shall come down upon his own pate.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «mischief» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.