Musty

Musty
Musty Mus"ty, a. [Compar. {Mustier}; superl. {Mustiest}.] [From L. mustum must; or perh. fr. E. moist. Cf. {Must}, n., {Moist}.] 1. Having the rank, pungent, offensive odor and taste which substances of organic origin acquire during warm, moist weather; foul or sour and fetid; moldy; as, musty corn; musty books. --Harvey. [1913 Webster]

2. Spoiled by age; rank; stale. [1913 Webster]

The proverb is somewhat musty. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. Dull; heavy; spiritless. ``That he may not grow musty and unfit for conversation.'' --Addison. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • musty — [adj1] stuffy, aged airless, ancient, antediluvian, antique, crumbling, dank, decayed, decrepit, dirty, dried out*, dry, fetid, filthy, frowzy*, malodorous, mildewed, mildewy, moldy, moth eaten*, noisome, old, putrid, rotten, smelly, spoiled,… …   New thesaurus

  • musty — [mus′tē] adj. mustier, mustiest [< ? earlier moisty < MOIST] 1. having a stale, moldy smell or taste, as an unused room, food kept in a damp place, etc. 2. stale or trite; worn out; antiquated [musty ideas] 3. dull; apathetic mustily adv.… …   English World dictionary

  • musty — index stale Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • musty — (adj.) 1520s, perhaps a variant of moisty moist, damp (see MOIST (Cf. moist)). Related: Mustiness …   Etymology dictionary

  • musty — fusty, *malodorous, stinking, fetid, noisome, putrid, rank, rancid Analogous words: *dirty, filthy, foul, nasty, squalid: sloppy, *slipshod, unkempt, slovenly …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • musty — ► ADJECTIVE (mustier, mustiest) 1) having a stale or mouldy smell or taste. 2) unoriginal or outdated. DERIVATIVES mustiness noun. ORIGIN perhaps an alteration of moisty moist …   English terms dictionary

  • musty — [[t]mʌ̱sti[/t]] ADJ GRADED Something that is musty smells old and damp. There are racks of musty clothing and piles of junk. ...that terrible musty smell. Syn: fusty …   English dictionary

  • musty — adjective a musty room, house, or object has a damp and unpleasant smell, because it is old and has not had any fresh air for a long time: musty old books | the stale musty smell of the attic mustiness noun (U) …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • musty — UK [ˈmʌstɪ] / US adjective Word forms musty : adjective musty comparative mustier superlative mustiest smelling unpleasant and not fresh The room had a musty smell. Derived word: mustiness noun uncountable …   English dictionary

  • musty — adjective (mustier; est) Etymology: 4must Date: 1530 1. a. impaired by damp or mildew ; moldy b. tasting of mold c. smelling of damp and decay ; fusty 2 …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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