I. ˈmī(-ə)r noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse mȳrr; akin to Old English mōs marsh — more at moss
Date: 14th century
1. : wet spongy earth (as of a bog or marsh)
2. : heavy often deep mud or slush
3. : a troublesome or intractable situation
found themselves in a mire of debt
• miry ˈmīr-ē adjective
II. verb
( mired ; mir·ing )
Date: 15th century
transitive verb
1.
a. : to cause to stick fast in or as if in mire
b. : to hamper or hold back as if by mire : entangle
2. : to cover or soil with mire
intransitive verb
: to stick or sink in mire