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Antonyms for mess


Grammar : Noun
Spell : mes
Phonetic Transcription : mɛs



Definition of mess

Origin :
  • c.1300, "food for one meal, pottage," from Old French mes "portion of food, course at dinner," from Late Latin missus "course at dinner," literally "a placing, a putting (on a table, etc.)," from past participle of mittere "to put, place," in classical Latin "to send, let go" (see mission).
  • Meaning "communal eating place" (especially a military one) is first attested 1530s, from earlier sense of "company of persons eating together" (early 15c.), originally a group of four. Sense of "mixed food," especially for animals, (1738) led to contemptuous use for "jumble, mixed mass" (1828) and figurative sense of "state of confusion" (1834), as well as "condition of untidiness" (1851). General use for "a quantity" of anything is attested by 1830. Meaning "excrement" (of animals) is from 1903.
  • noun disorder, litter
  • noun difficulty, predicament
Example sentences :
  • Never would I have believed that I could make such a mess of it.
  • Extract from : « The Bacillus of Beauty » by Harriet Stark
  • Put the desks straight first; what a mess you get them into.
  • Extract from : « The Channings » by Mrs. Henry Wood
  • I then came into a district of mess halls where a meal was being served.
  • Extract from : « City of Endless Night » by Milo Hastings
  • It's the only safe way that I can see out of this mess of a harbor we've got.
  • Extract from : « The Harbor » by Ernest Poole
  • ESAU, an ancient who sold his birthright for a mess of breakfast food.
  • Extract from : « Who Was Who: 5000 B. C. to Date » by Anonymous
  • What I mean is, I'd smash up all the machines that make a mess of men an' women.
  • Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine
  • There was a mess of thick, congealing blood splashed on the road and the kerb.
  • Extract from : « Changing Winds » by St. John G. Ervine
  • Pascal, magnificently aloof, was standing in the center of the mess.
  • Extract from : « Weak on Square Roots » by Russell Burton
  • All I had to do to be clear of this mess was to walk out the door and keep going.
  • Extract from : « Arm of the Law » by Harry Harrison
  • He got breakfast, bringing to her some of the mess he cooked.
  • Extract from : « Louisiana Lou » by William West Winter

Synonyms for mess

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019