Etymology From Middle English milde, from Old English milde (“mild”), from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz (“mild”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“to beat, pound, grind”). Cognate with Scots mild, myld (“mild”), Saterland Frisian milde (“mild”), West Frisian myld (“mild”), Dutch mild (“mild”), Low German milde (“mild”), German mild (“mild”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Bokmål mild (“mild”), Icelandic mildur (“mild”), Latin mollis (“soft, gentle”), Lithuanian malonus (“pleasing, pleasant, kind”), Old Norse mildr.
Of a rule or punishment Of only moderate severity; not strict.
He received a mild sentence.
3
Not overly felt or seriously intended.
I corralled the judge, and we started off across the fields, in no very mild state of fear of that gentleman's wife, whose vigilance was seldom relaxed. And thus we came by a circuitous route to Mohair, the judge occupied by his own guilty thoughts, and I by others not less disturbing.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter VIII, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
4
Of an illness or pain Not serious or dangerous.
I learn that mental retardation is classified in four levels: mild, moderate, severe, and profound.2002, Rachel Simon, Riding the Bus with My Sister: A True Life Journey:
NPDR can be further classified as mild, moderate, severe, or very severe, which can help predict how quickly the patient may progress to proliferative (neovascular) diabetic retinopathy (PDR).2003, Janice A. Gault, Ophthalmology Pearls:
5
Of weather Moderately warm, especially less cold than expected.
a mild day
mild weather
6
Of a medicine or cosmetic Acting gently and without causing harm.
a mild anaesthetic
7
Of food Not sharp or bitter; not strong in flavor.
Etymology From Middle English milde, from Old English milde (“mild”), from Proto-Germanic *mildijaz (“mild”), from Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“to beat, pound, grind”). Cognate with Scots mild, myld (“mild”), Saterland Frisian milde (“mild”), West Frisian myld (“mild”), Dutch mild (“mild”), Low German milde (“mild”), German mild (“mild”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Bokmål mild (“mild”), Icelandic mildur (“mild”), Latin mollis (“soft, gentle”), Lithuanian malonus (“pleasing, pleasant, kind”), Old Norse mildr.
1
UK A relatively low-gravity beer, often with a dark colour; mild ale
'Let me get this for the lady,' I said to Fange, who was pulling her a pint of mild.1998, Robert Rankin, The Dance of the Voodoo Handbag, page 112:
But Stella shouldn't really be drunk in pints the same way our dads used to drink bitter or mild that was effectively half as strong.2011, Pete Brown, Three Sheets to the Wind: