different between thoughtful vs mindful

English

Etymology

From Middle English tho?tful, thohtful, equivalent to thought +? -ful. Compare Dutch gedachtenvol.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /????tf?l/, /????tf?l/
• (General American) enPR: thôt’f?l, IPA^(key): /???tf?l/
• (cot–caught merger) enPR: thät’f?l, IPA^(key): /???tf?l/

Adjective

thoughtful (comparative more thoughtful, superlative most thoughtful)

1. Demonstrating thought or careful consideration.

   Synonyms: thoughty, carefully, detail oriented

2. Demonstrating kindness or consideration for others.

   Synonyms: thoughty, considerate, attentive, caring

Antonyms

• thoughtless

Derived terms

• thoughtfully
• thoughtfulness

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• mindefull, mindfull (obsolete)

Etymology 1

From Middle English myndeful, myndefull, from Old English ?emyndful (“of good memory”), equivalent to mind +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?m??ndf?l/

Adjective

mindful (comparative more mindful, superlative most mindful)

1. Being aware (of something); attentive, heedful. [from 14th c.]
2. (obsolete) Inclined (to do something). [16th-19th c.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, V.5:

     These noble warriors, mindefull to pursew / The last daies purpose of their vowed fight, / Them selves thereto preparde in order dew […].

Antonyms

• mindless
• seat-of-the-pants

Derived terms

• mindfully
• mindfulness

Translations

Etymology 2

mind +? -ful

Noun

mindful (plural mindfuls)

1. As much as can be held in one's mind at a time.

Further reading

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