Mire

Mire is such a lovely sounding word. If I didn't already know what it meant I would envision in my head a beautiful scene, but unfortunately it is quite the opposite.
According to the AHD the word mire is defined as:

1. An area of wet, soggy, muddy ground; a bog.
2. Deep slimy oil or mud.
3. A disadvantageous or difficult condition or situation

The word has its roots in Old Norse with the word myrr which meant bog and then made its way into Middle English.