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mil·dew (mĭld, -dy)
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n.
1.
a. Any of various fungi or oomycetes that form a superficial, usually whitish growth on plants and various organic materials.
b. A plant disease caused by such organisms.
2. A superficial coating or discoloration of organic materials, such as cloth, paper, or leather, caused by fungi, especially under damp conditions.
tr. & intr.v. mil·dewed, mil·dew·ing, mil·dews
To affect or become affected with mildew.

[Middle English mildeu, from Old English mildēaw, honeydew, nectar; see melit- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

mildewy adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.