mire
UK[ˈmaɪə(r)]US[ˈmaɪər]
n
An area of deep, wet, sticky earth; a swamp or bog.
v
To cause to become stuck in or as if in mire.
v
To involve in difficulties.
Etymology
The word 'mire' entered Middle English from Old Norse 'mýrr', meaning a bog or swamp. This Norse term is related to the Old English 'mēos', meaning moss, and both can be traced back to a Proto-Germanic root. The core concept has consistently been associated with wet, soft, and muddy ground. The verb senses, meaning to entrap or involve in difficulties, developed naturally from the literal experience of becoming physically stuck in swampy terrain.
Analysis
The word 'mire' is a simplex word of Old Norse origin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English form.
Examples
The tractor was hopelessly stuck in the mire.
The peace talks are mired in procedural disputes.
Her boots were caked with mire after the long walk through the fields.