Word Origin & History
mickledial. survival of O.E. micel, mycel "great, big, many," from P.Gmc. *mekilaz (cf. O.S. mikil, O.N. mikill, O.H.G. mihhil, Goth. mikils), from PIE base *meg(h)- "great, large" (cf. Arm. mets "great;" Skt. mahat- "great, mazah- "greatness;" Avestan mazant- "great;" Hitt. mekkish "great, large;" Gk. megas
"great, large;" L. magnus "great, large, much, abundant," major "greater;" M.Ir. mag, maignech "great, large;" M.Welsh meith "long, great"). Its main modern form is
much (q.v.).