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Webster 1913 Edition


Morsel

Mor′sel

,
Noun.
[OF.
morsel
, F.
morceau
, LL.
morsellus
, a dim. fr. L.
morsus
a biting, bite, fr.
mordere
to bite; prob. akin to E.
smart
. See
Smart
, and cf.
Morceau
,
Mordant
,
Muse
,
Verb.
,
Muzzle
,
Noun.
]
1.
A little bite or bit of food.
Chaucer.
Every
morsel
to a satisfied hunger is only a new labor to a tired digestion.
South.
2.
A small quantity; a little piece; a fragment.

Webster 1828 Edition


Morsel

MOR'SEL

,
Noun.
[from L. morsus, a bite, form mordeo.]
1.
A bite; a mouthful; a small piece of food.
Every morsel to a satisfied hunger is only a new labor to a tired digestion.
2.
A piece; a meal; something to be eaten.
On these herbs and fruits and flowers
Feed first, on each beast next and fish and fowl,
No homely morsels.
3.
A small quantity of something not eatable. [Improper.]

Definition 2024


morsel

morsel

English

Noun

morsel (plural morsels)

  1. A small fragment or share of something, commonly applied to food.
  2. A very small amount.
    • 2008, Pamela Griffin, New York Brides, Barbour Publishing Inc. (2008), ISBN 9781597899840, page 70:
      Didn't even a morsel of decency remain in his brother?

Synonyms

  • See also Wikisaurus:modicum.

Derived terms

Translations

External links

  • morsel in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • morsel in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Anagrams


Old French

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Medieval Latin morsellum (a bit, a little piece), diminutive of Latin morsum (a bit), neuter of morsus, past participle of mordeō, mordēre (bite, nibble, gnaw), from Proto-Indo-European *merə- (to rub, wipe; to pack, rob).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /mɔr.sɛl/

Noun

morsel m (oblique plural morseaus or morseax or morsiaus or morsiax or morsels, nominative singular morseaus or morseax or morsiaus or morsiax or morsels, nominative plural morsel)

  1. morsel; bit; piece

Descendants