Word
michel
Phoneticsmichel
/ˈmaɪkəɫ/
Definitions
01large or great
adj. very large or great in amount.
adj. denoting a large amount or great size; an archaic variant of 'mickle'.
“The old stories spoke of a michel treasure hidden deep in the mountain.”
“The knight faced a michel challenge as he crossed the frozen wastes, for the journey was long and the winds were fierce.”
Archaic
Usage
Used primarily in historical or literary contexts; modern speakers use 'great' or 'much'.
Teaching tip
This word is obsolete in modern speech. Students will only encounter it in very old literature or as a surname.
02a large amount
n. a large amount of something.
n. a great quantity or amount; an archaic variant of 'mickle'.
“Many a little makes a michel, as the old saying goes.”
“Though each contribution was small, together they amounted to a michel that funded the entire cathedral.”
Archaic
Usage
Often found in the proverb 'many a little makes a mickle/michel'.
Teaching tip
This form is almost entirely replaced by 'mickle' in the few proverbs where it still survives.
Etymology
From French Michel.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/michel