mischievous

Definitions


[ˈmɪstʃɪvəs], (Adjective)

Definitions:
- causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way
(e.g: mischievous children)

- (of an action or statement) causing or intended to cause harm or trouble
(e.g: a mischievous allegation for which there is not a shred of evidence)


Phrases:

Origin:
Middle English: from Anglo-Norman French meschevous, from Old French meschever ‘come to an unfortunate end’ (see mischief). The early sense was ‘unfortunate or calamitous’, later ‘having harmful effects’; the sense ‘playfully troublesome’ dates from the late 17th century




definition by Oxford Dictionaries