Mischevious

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Playfully disobedient or teasing in a lighthearted way ; causing minor damage or trouble without serious intent
2. Inclined to engage in playful pranks and rule-breaking ; creating small problems or irritations through meddling
3. Behaving in a playfully impish manner that breaks rules for fun ; tending to create petty difficulties or vexations

Etymology: "Mischevious" is a misspelling of "mischievous," and the spelling error has a traceable cause. The correct form already carries the adjective ending "-ous," but the vowel sequence in "mischievous" is unusual, and many writers slip into the more common pattern of adjectives ending in "-ious," such as "anxious," "curious," and "previous." That pull toward the familiar ending produces the extra "e" and the altered vowel. Within standard English, the form "mischievous" is the only accepted spelling, and its own history is simple: it is an adjective built from "mischief" with the suffix "-ous," meaning full of or given to mischief. Writers who want the word spelled correctly can remember that the "ie" appears in "mischief" and carries over into the adjective, so the sequence runs "mischiev-" before the final "-ous."