mess

[[t]mɛs[/t]]

n.

1) a dirty or untidy condition

2) a person or thing that is dirty, untidy, or disordered

3) a state of confusion

4) an unpleasant or difficult situation

5) a dirty or untidy mass:

a mess of papers[/ex]

6) a group regularly taking their meals together

7) the meal so taken

8) mess hall

9) a quantity of food sufficient for a dish or a single occasion

10) sloppy or unappetizing food

11) a dish or quantity of soft or liquid food

12) a person whose life, mental state, or affairs are in a state of confusion

13) to make dirty or untidy (often fol. by up):

Don't mess up the room[/ex]

14) to make a mess or muddle of (affairs, responsibilities, etc.) (often fol. by up)

15) to make a mess

16) to eat in company, esp. as a member of a mess

17) phv mess around or about

a) to busy oneself aimlessly; waste time

b) to involve oneself, esp. for reprehensible purposes:

to mess around with gamblers[/ex]

c) to have sexual affairs; philander

18) phv mess in or with, to intervene officiously; meddle

19) cvb phv mess up

a) phv to perform poorly; produce errors or confusion

b) to treat roughly; beat up

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Etymology: 1250–1300; ME mes < OF: a course at a meal < LL missus what is sent (i.e., put on the table), n. use of ptp. of L mittere to send