Mis'chief1, n.
(mĭs'chif), n. [O. Fr. meschef, méchef, Pr. mescap, Sp. & Pg. menoscabo, from Fr. & Pr. mes, Sp. & Pg. menos, equivalent to Lat. minus, less, and O. Fr. chef, Pr. cap, Sp. & Pg. cabo, head, end, from Lat. caput, properly ill end.]
Sense 1. Evil produced or effected, whether with or without intention; injury caused by heedlessness, folly, or perversity; harm, trouble, or vexation coming from human agency; hurt; damage; often, trivial evil or vexation, caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs. Ps. lii. 2.
The practice whereof shall, I hope, secure me from many mischiefs. Fuller.
Sense 2. Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble.
Many of their horse, also, fallen in disorderly, were now more a mischief to their own, than before a terror to their enemies. Milton.
The mischief was, these allies would never allow that the common enemy was subdued. Swift.
Synonyms—Damage; harm; hurt; injury; detriment; evil; ill.—MISCHIEF, DAMAGE, HARM. Damage is an injury which diminishes the value of a thing; harm is an injury which causes trouble or inconvenience; mischief is an injury which disturbs the order and consistency of things. We often suffer damage or harm from accident, or from the course of Providence, but mischief always springs from the perversity or folly of man; as, no one can tell the mischiefs which result to a community from a tattling disposition.
But Calidore, that was well skilled in fight, Him long forlore, and still his spirit spared, Lying in wait how him he damage might. Spenser.
We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise Powers Deny us for our good. Shak.
Was I the cause of mischief, or the man Whose lawless lust the fatal war began? Dryden.