Easton's Bible Dictionary 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 Dictionary 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. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MITE mit (lepton): The smallest copper or bronze coin current among the Jews. They were first struck by the Maccabean princes with Hebrew legends, and afterward by the Herods and the Roman procurators with Greek legends. The "widow's mite" mentioned in Mark 12:42 and Luke 21:2 was probably of the first kind, since those with Greek legends were regarded as unlawful in the temple service. According to Mark, the lepton was only half a kodrantes (Latin quadrans), which would indicate a value of about one-fourth of a cent or half an English farthing. See MONEY. H. Porter

Multi-Version Concordance Mite (1 Occurrence) Luke 12:59 I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite. (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)