different between mixed vs motley

English

Etymology

From mix, equivalent to mix +? -ed. Compare Middle English mixid (“mixed”, past participle), Old English miscode (“mixed”, preterite). More at mix.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m?kst/
• Rhymes: -?kst

Verb

mixed

1. simple past tense and past participle of mix

Adjective

mixed (comparative more mixed, superlative most mixed)

1. Having two or more separate aspects.

   I get a very mixed feeling from this puzzling painting.

2. Not completely pure, tainted or adulterated.

   My joy was somewhat mixed when my partner said she was pregnant: it's a lot of responsibility.

3. Including both male(s) and female(s).

   The tennis match was mixed with a boy and a girl on each side.

   My son attends a mixed school, my daughter an all-girl grammar school.

4. Stemming from two or more races or breeds

   The benefit dog show has both mixed and single-breed competitions.

   Mixed blood can surprisingly produce inherited properties which neither parent showed

Synonyms

• (having two or more separate aspects): heterogeneous (See also Thesaurus:heterogeneous); (feelings) ambivalent, conflicted, equivocal
• (not pure): impure
• (including both males and females): co-ed, unsegregated
• (stemming from two or more races or breeds): hybrid, mongrel

Antonyms

• (having two or more separate aspects): homogeneous, unmixed; See also Thesaurus:homogeneous
• (not pure): pure
• (including both males and females): single-sex
• (stemming from two or more races or breeds): pedigree, pure, pureblooded, purebred

Derived terms

Related terms

• mixer
• mixture

Translations

Anagrams

• demix

English

Etymology

From Middle English motle, from Anglo-Norman motteley (“parti-colored”), late 14th c., from Old English mot (“speck”), cognate with mote.

Equivalent to mottle +? -y

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?m?tli/

Adjective

motley (comparative more motley or motlier, superlative most motley or motliest)

1. Comprising greatly varied elements, to the point of incongruity.

   Synonyms: heterogeneous, diverse, manifold; see also Thesaurus:heterogeneous
2. Having many colours; variegated.

   Synonyms: colorful, prismatic, variegated; see also Thesaurus:multicolored

Derived terms

• motley crew

Translations

Noun

motley (plural motleys)

1. An incongruous mixture.
2. A jester's multicoloured clothes.
3. (by extension) A jester; a fool.

Translations

Anagrams

• etymol.