Contraction of minute, from the Latin minutum, the translation of the Greek word lepton, the very smallest bronze of copper coin (Luke 12:59; 21:2). Two mites made one quadrans, i.e., the fourth part of a Roman as, which was in value nearly a halfpenny. (see FARTHING.)

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A minute object, creature or amount; a small arachnid, of the order Acarina, of which there are many species; as, the cheese mite, sugar mite, harvest mite, etc. See Acarina.

2. (n.) A small coin formerly circulated in England, rated at about a third of a farthing. The name is also applied to a small coin used in Palestine in the time of Christ.

3. (n.) A small weight; one twentieth of a grain.

4. (n.) Anything very small; a minute object; a very little quantity or particle.