mires
/ˈmaɪərz/
noun/verb
Origin
Old Norse
mýrr — marsh, swamp
Overview
Meaning Now
- stretches of swampy or boggy ground
- difficult or entangled situations
- to cause to become stuck in mud or a complex situation
Literal older meaning
deep, soft mud or a marshy area
Language path
Old Norse → Middle English → English
Earliest form
myre
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The word stems from the heavy Scandinavian influence on the English language during the Viking Age and the subsequent Middle English period, replacing or supplementing older Germanic terms for wetlands.
Evolution
- Proto-Germanic
*miw-
“damp, wet”
- Old Norse
mýrr
“marsh”
- Middle English
myre
“bog or swamp”
Introduced via Scandinavian influence in Northern England.
- Modern English
mires
“swampy ground or entanglements”
Used both as a plural noun and a third-person singular verb.
Connections
Word parts
mire
root
swamp
s
ending
plural or third-person singular marker
Related across languages
Old Swedish
myra
swamp
Danish
myre
swamp
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.