different between mild vs humdrum

English

Alternative forms

• milde (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English milde, from Old English milde (“mild”), from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz (“mild”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh?- (“to beat, pound, grind”). Cognate with Scots mild, myld (“mild”), Saterland Frisian milde (“mild”), West Frisian myld (“mild”), Dutch mild (“mild”), Low German milde (“mild”), German mild (“mild”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Bokmål mild (“mild”), Icelandic mildur (“mild”), Latin mollis (“soft, gentle”), Lithuanian malonus (“pleasing, pleasant, kind”), Old Norse mildr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ma?ld/
• Rhymes: -a?ld

Adjective

mild (comparative milder, superlative mildest)

1. Gentle and not easily angered.

2. (of a rule or punishment) Of only moderate severity; not strict.

3. Not overly felt or seriously intended.
4. (of an illness or pain) Not serious or dangerous.
5. (of weather) Moderately warm, especially less cold than expected.

6. (of a medicine or cosmetic) Acting gently and without causing harm.

7. (of food, drink, or a drug) Not sharp or bitter; not strong in flavor.

Synonyms

• soft, gentle, bland, calm, tranquil, soothing, pleasant, placid, meek, kind, tender, indulgent, clement, mollifying, lenitive, assuasive
• See also Thesaurus:intermediate

Antonyms

• strong
• harsh, severe, irritating, violent, disagreeable

Derived terms

• mild-mannered
• mildly
• mildness
• mild steel

Translations

Noun

mild (plural milds)

1. (Britain) A relatively low-gravity beer, often with a dark colour; mild ale
   • 1998, Robert Rankin, The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag (page 112)

     'Let me get this for the lady,' I said to Fange, who was pulling her a pint of mild.

Derived terms

• mild and bitter

Further reading

• mild in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• mild in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• mild at OneLook Dictionary Search

Danish

Etymology

From Old Norse mildr.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mil/, [mil?]

Adjective

mild

1. mild, gentle, soft
2. light, lenient

Inflection

Dutch

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?lt

Etymology

From Middle Dutch milde, from Old Dutch mildi, from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz.

Adjective

mild (comparative milder, superlative mildst)

1. mild

Inflection

German

Alternative forms

• milde (in the sense of merciful, otherwise archaic)

Etymology

From Middle High German milte, from Old High German milti. The modern consonantism is Central and Low German; compare Middle Low German milde.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?lt/

Adjective

mild (comparative milder, superlative am mildesten)

1. mild (in all of its common senses)

Declension

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse mildr

Adjective

mild (neuter singular mildt, definite singular and plural milde, comparative mildere, indefinite superlative mildest, definite superlative mildeste)

1. mild, gentle, lenient

Derived terms

• formilde
• lattermild
• mildhet

References

• “mild” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Old Norse mildr, from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz. Akin to English mild.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?l?/, /m?ld/ (examples of pronunciation)

Adjective

mild (masculine and feminine mild, neuter mildt, definite singular and plural milde, comparative mildare, indefinite superlative mildast, definite superlative mildaste)

1. mild

   I mai er det ofte mildt i veret.

   In May, the weather is often mild

2. gentle
3. lenient

   Dommeren gav han ei mild straff.

   The judge gave him a lenient punishment.

Derived terms

• formilde
• lattermild

References

• “mild” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Saterland Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian milde, from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz. More at mild.

Adjective

mild

1. mild; gentle

Swedish

Etymology

From Old Swedish milder, from Old Norse mildr, from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz, from Proto-Indo-European *meld?-.

Pronunciation

Adjective

mild

1. mild, gentle
2. bland; not hot or strong (about taste of food)
3. weak; not corrosive or aggressive

   en mild ättiksyralösning

   a weak solution of acetic acid

4. not extreme; about weather: neither hot nor cold

Declension

English

Etymology

Possible reduplication of hum, 1550s.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?md??m/

Adjective

humdrum (comparative more humdrum, superlative most humdrum)

1. Lacking variety or excitement; dull; boring.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:boring

   • 1999, Lucy Honig, The Truly Needy And Other Stories, University of Pittsburgh Press (?ISBN), page 89:

     He suggested cusk, because he knew they would have it. She had never heard of cusk. “Doesn't it sound exotic!” she said. “Exotic indeed!” he laughed, and almost told her what a humdrum fish it really was, but stopped himself.

Translations

Noun

humdrum (countable and uncountable, plural humdrums)

1. (uncountable) The quality of lacking variety or excitement.

   Synonyms: dullness, monotony

   • 2010, Clare Vanderpool, Moon Over Manifest

     I think it helped distract us from the dry, humdrum, and heat of the here and now.

2. (countable, dated) A stupid fellow.
   • 1834, Elizabeth Frances Dagley, The Young Seer, Or Early Searches Into Futurity (page 103)

     So, after settling it that Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were complete country humdrums, the daughters hoydens, the sons awkward half-dandies, and the company altogether any thing but agreeable, she came to a conclusion she had done fifty times before, that the country was not like London.

Translations