Hypertext Webster Gateway: "mite"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Mite
contraction of minute, from the Latin minutum, the translation
of the Greek word lepton, the very smallest bronze of copper
coin (Luke 12:59; 21:2). Two mites made one quadrans, i.e., the
fourth part of a Roman as, which was in value nearly a
halfpenny. (See {FARTHING}.)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Mite \Mite\, n. [AS. m[=i]te mite (in sense 1); akin to LG.
mite, D. mijt, G. miete, OHG. m[=i]za; cf. Goth. maitan to
cut.]
1. (Zo["o]l.) A minute arachnid, of the order Acarina, of
which there are many species; as, the cheese mite, sugar
mite, harvest mite, etc. See {Acarina}.
2. [D. mijt; prob. the same word.] A small coin formerly
circulated in England, rated at about a third of a
farthing. The name is also applied to a small coin used in
Palestine in the time of Christ.
Two mites, which make a farthing. --Mark xii.
49.
3. A small weight; one twentieth of a grain.
4. Anything very small; a minute object; a very little
quantity or particle.
For in effect they be not worth a myte. --Chaucer.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
mite
n 1: a small but appreciable amount; "this dish could use a touch
of garlic" [syn: {touch}, {hint}, {pinch}, {jot}, {speck},
{soupcon}]
2: any of numerous very small to minute arachnids often
infesting animals or plants or stored foods
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