mess

I. noun Etymology: Middle English mes, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin missus course at a meal, from missus, past participle of mittere to put, from Latin, to send — more at smite Date: 14th century 1. a quantity of food: a. archaic food set on a table at one time b. a prepared dish of soft food; also a mixture of ingredients cooked or eaten together c. enough food of a specified kind for a dish or a meal <

picked a mess of peas for dinner

> 2. a. a group of persons who regularly take their meals together; also a meal so taken b. a place where meals are regularly served to a group ; mess hall 3. a. a disordered, untidy, offensive, or unpleasant state or condition <

your room is in a mess

> b. one that is disordered, untidy, offensive, or unpleasant usually because of blundering, laxity, or misconduct <

[the movie] is a mess, as sloppy in concept as it is in execution — Judith Crist

> <

made a mess of his life

> 4. a large quantity or number <

a mess of problems

> II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. to provide with meals at a mess 2. a. to make dirty or untidy ; disarrange — often used with up <

don't mess up your room

> b. to mix up ; bungle — often used with up <

really messed up my life

> 3. to interfere with — often used with up <

magnetic storms that mess up communications — Time

> 4. to rough up ; manhandle — often used with up <

mess him up good so he won't cheat us again

> intransitive verb 1. to take meals with a mess 2. to make a mess 3. a. putter, trifle <

children like to mess around with paints

> b. to handle or play with something especially carelessly <

don't mess with my camera

> — often used with around c. to take an active interest in something or someone <

messing around with new video techniques

>; also interfere, meddle <

messing in other people's affairs

> <

you'd better not mess with me

> 4. to become confused or make an error — usually used with up <

got another chance and messed up again

>