MITE

n. & adv. --n. 1 hist. a Flemish copper coin of small value. 2 any small monetary unit. 3 a small object or person, esp. a child. 4 a modest contribution; the best one can do (offered my mite of comfort). --adv. (usu. prec. by a) colloq. somewhat (is a mite shy). [ME f. MLG, MDu. mite f. Gmc: prob. the same as MITE(1)]