ENGLISH
REFERENCE

michel

adj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈmaɪkəɫ// michel Archaic
Definition

adj. a very old word for 'great' or 'much'. It was common in old stories and poems but is almost never used in modern speech.

adj. denoting a great amount or degree; large or much. This form is archaic or dialectal, primarily found in Middle English texts or specific regional Scots usage.


SIMPLE

The old book spoke of a michel weight of gold.

CONTEXTUAL

In the ancient manuscript, the knight was described as having michel strength in battle.

COMPLEX

The poet employed michel as a deliberate archaism to evoke the linguistic texture of the fourteenth century, though modern readers might find the term obscure.

Origin

From French Michel.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies; now largely restricted to literary or historical contexts.

Last updated May 2, 2026