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Mildew

//ˈmɪl.d(j)u// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A growth of minute powdery or webby fungi, whitish or of different colors, found on various diseased or decaying substances. countable, uncountable
  2. 2
    a fungus that produces a superficial (usually white) growth on organic matter wordnet
  3. 3
    the process of becoming mildewed wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To taint with mildew. transitive

    "Hee giues the Web and the Pin, ſquints the eye, and makes the Hare‐lippe; Mildewes the white Wheate, and hurts the poore Creature of earth."

  2. 2
    become moldy; spoil due to humidity wordnet
  3. 3
    To become tainted with mildew. intransitive

    "His bald purplish head now looked for all the world like a mildewed skull."

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English myldew, from Old English meledēaw, mildēaw, from Proto-West Germanic *milidauw, from *mili (“honey”) + *dauw (“dew”). Compare West Frisian moaldau, Dutch meeldauw, German Mehltau. More at dew.

Etymology 2

From Middle English myldew, from Old English meledēaw, mildēaw, from Proto-West Germanic *milidauw, from *mili (“honey”) + *dauw (“dew”). Compare West Frisian moaldau, Dutch meeldauw, German Mehltau. More at dew.

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