mischievious

English

Etymology

From mischievous, under the influence of adjectives ending in -ious.

Pronunciation

• enPR: mĭs.chēʹ.vē.əs, IPA^(key): /mɪsˈt͡ʃiː.vi.əs/.
• Rhymes: -iːviəs

Adjective

mischievious (comparative more mischievious, superlative most mischievious)

1. (nonstandard) Alternative form of mischievous and mischevious
   • 1795, a correspondent to the Home Office; quoted in 2014, John Stevenson, Popular Disturbances in England 1700-1832, 2nd edition, Routledge, p. 181

     'a want of food must and will keep the popular mind in such a state of irritability as to be easily worked upon by mischievious men'

   • 2008, Karl Woodbury, England Is Truly a Magical Place:

     Jenny and Lenny, the mischievious twins, With muddied knees and gap-toothed grins, And rumbling tummies - they lick their lips, It's time for fish fingers, beans and chips.

   • 2009, Saul H. Rosenthal, French Faux Amis: The Combined Book, page 17:

     In French, the meanings of malicieux and malice have changed to mean mischievious and mischieviousness, with an implication of cleverness and perhaps a little teasing.

   • 2014, Chris Davis, Lizards and Snakes for Dinner with Steaks:

     Most children are mischievious, in one way or another, but the boy in this book hatches a plan like no other, and invites some friends for dinner.

Usage notes

• This spelling, like mischevious, is attested from the 16th century on, so the corresponding pronunciation is at least as old.