In modern Russian, the word "mess" is often used in the meaning of disorder. It is it that is most familiar to us when we see that the house is not cleaned and everything lies in its place. An example is the mess in the house at Plyushkin from the poem by N. V. Gogol "Dead Souls". However, there are other meanings. Below we will consider the etymology of this concept, determine the language from which this word came to us. Then we examine its lexical meanings. And in the end we will try to find synonyms.
Etymology of the word "mess"
Initially, this term is of Turkic origin. And it originates from the word bardak, which translates as "pot, glass, jug." The same concept is found in the Crimean, Tatar and Turkish modern languages.
In Turkey, glass cups reminiscent of a pear with an expanded top are now called a mess. Of these, they drink tea up to 12 times a day. For the Turks, this is a mess.
In addition, the so-called clay pot and the inhabitants of the Don region. It must be with a large hole.
The lexical meaning of the word "mess"
The question of whether the mess is a literary word or not, disappears by itself. In Russian, this concept is colloquial. What does this mean - a mess?
According to the dictionaries S.I. Ozhegova and T.F. Ephraim, this word has two main meanings. It turns out that the mess is:
- An institution where women of easy virtue are located and debauchery, alcohol and money reign.
- Uncleaned place, scattered things everywhere.
In addition, there is a figurative meaning of this term - disorder in the head, in thoughts, in life.
The use of the word in the first meaning is more cultural than in the second. A mess in the meaning of chaos is used in slang by young people and ordinary people, this is a slang word that is not literary.
There is another word glove box. In one sense it is used as a diminutive word, and in the other as a bedside table where you can put or hide something. Most often, this is called a regiment in a car opposite the front passenger seat.
Synonyms and examples of use
There are a number of synonyms in its first meaning, that is, a mess is:
- brothel;
- house of tolerance;
- brothel;
- obscene party;
- stash.
And in the second sense, we can offer the following options:
- clutter;
- rout;
- mess;
- chaos;
- confusion;
- cliche.
That is a huge number of synonyms. But it’s better to take the term in a living sentence and see how it works in context.
- During the war, a mess was going on both at the front and in the rear.
- There was a real mess in the teenager’s room.
- In small villages there is still some kind of mess.
- Honey, look at my driver’s license in the glove compartment.
- Turks drink tea from glass cups called mess.
Thus, we found out that this word refers to the Turkic languages. Initially, it had the meaning of a glass or a jug. Then they began to use it as a brothel, an obscene place. And now more and more often it has become used in the meaning of disorder in the literal and figurative sense. Indeed, what is going on in brothels is difficult to name.