different between enormous vs mighty

English

Etymology

From Latin ?normis. An assimilated form of ex- (“out of”) + norma (“rule, norm”) + -ous.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??n??(?)m?s/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m?s

Adjective

enormous (comparative more enormous, superlative most enormous)

1. (obsolete) Deviating from the norm; unusual, extraordinary.
   • , New York 2001, p.105:

     all shall be rather enforced than hindered, except they be dismembered, or grievously deformed, infirm, or visited with some enormous hereditary disease is body or mind […].

2. (obsolete) Exceedingly wicked; atrocious or outrageous.
   • 1872, James Pillsbury Lane, Historical Sketches of the First Congregational Church, Bristol, R.I., 1689-1872, page 61:

     Men would prove wolves and vipers; tigers and dragons mixt in one and the same person to each other. O bless God for this great gift of Princes and Judges to rule the wicked and enormous world and to sway the scepter of righteousness […]

   • 1898, Christianity in Earnest, for Church Extension and Saloon Suppression, page 7:

     Protestant Christian people are largely ignorant or indifferent to the wicked and enormous religious claims of Romanism. As a so-called religious organization, Romanism is not only the foe of Protestantism, but […]

3. Extremely large; greatly exceeding the common size, extent, etc.

Synonyms

• massive
• huge
• gigantic
• humongous
• abnormal
• tremendous
• See also Thesaurus:gigantic

Translations

Anagrams

• nemorous

English

Alternative forms

• mightie (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English mighty, mightie, mighti, myghty, mi?ty, ma?ty, from Old English mihti?, mehti?, meahti?, mæhti? (“mighty”), from Proto-West Germanic *maht?g (“mighty”), from Proto-Germanic *maht?gaz (“mighty”), equivalent to might +? -y.

Cognate with Scots michty, mychty, Saterland Frisian machtich, Dutch machtig, German Low German machtig, German mächtig, Swedish mäktig.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ma?ti/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?ma?ti/, [?m???i]
• Rhymes: -a?ti

Noun

mighty (plural mighties)

1. (obsolete, rare) A warrior of great strength and courage.

Adjective

mighty (comparative mightier, superlative mightiest)

1. Very strong; possessing might.

   He's a mighty wrestler, but you are faster than him.

   • Wise in heart, and mighty in strength.

2. Very heavy and powerful.

   Thor swung his mighty hammer.

   He gave the ball a mighty hit.

3. (colloquial) Very large; hefty.
   • 1809, Washington Irving, A History of New-York from the Beginning of the World to the End of the Dutch Dynasty, by Diedrich Knickerbocker

     Having listened attentively to the statement of Wandle Schoonhoven, giving an occasionable grunt, as he shovelled a mighty spoonful of Indian pudding into his mouth […]

4. Accomplished by might; hence, extraordinary; wonderful.

   • His mighty works

   • Mighty was their fuss about little matters.

5. (informal) Excellent, extremely good.

   Tonight's a mighty opportunity to have a party.

   She's a mighty cook.

Derived terms

• high and mighty
• mightiness
• unmighty

Translations

Adverb

mighty (not comparable)

1. (colloquial, dialect) Very; to a high degree.

   • The lady is not heard of, and the King mighty angry and the Lord sent to the Tower.

   • 1918, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Land That Time Forgot Chapter IV

     I was mighty glad that our entrance into the interior of Caprona had been inside a submarine rather than in any other form of vessel. I could readily understand how it might have been that Caprona had been invaded in the past by venturesome navigators without word of it ever reaching the outside world, for I can assure you that only by submarine could man pass up that great sluggish river, alive.

Related terms

• might
• almighty