misfeat 
3791 
misguy 
misfeatt, - [Also m /*/Vr/; < Of. mesfaite, an misframet (mis-fram'), n. f. [<mw-' 4 -frame.] 
ill deed, < iiirsfniri; do wrong: see misfeasant, To t'rainr wrongly or amiss. Sir r. .l/orf, 
m /.<--, and /<"''.] Illilcril; wrong. Jiiilliin-ll. Works, p. H74. 
That, pretty lady, 
mm/A MUffoternn 
ment. 
uch Ado, Iv. L 100. 
f< ME. mit- 
misfeazor, . Son mixfc/wor. 
misfeignt (mis -fan'), v. i. and <. [< mis- 1 + 
ffigii.] To feijiii with an evil design. 
For so misfetgnina her true knight to bee. 
Speiuer, F. Q., I. ill. 40. 
misfire (mis-fir'), . [< mi*- 1 + fire.] A fail- 
urn in firing, as of a gun or cannon. 
In case of mixjirr. through no fault of the shooter, another 
bird shall be allowed. Tribune Boole of Sports, p. 395. 
misfit (mis -fit'), r. t.; pret. and pp. misfitted, 
ppr. misfitting. [< mi'*- 1 + Jit 2 , v.] 1. To make, 
as a garment, etc., of a wrong size. 2. To 
supply with something that does not fit or is 
not suitable. 
misfit (mis-fit' ),. [<mig-l +fift,n.] A wrong 
or bad fit; something, as a suit of clothes, that 
fits badly. 
misforgivet, '' t. and i. [ME. minforgiven, mis- 
fiiryi-rnt, < mi*- 1 + forgive.] To misgive. 
His herte mysforgaf hym evermo. 
Chaucer, Troilus, iv. 1428. 
misform (mis-fdrm'), v. t. [X mi*- 1 + form.] 
To make of an ill form; put in a bad shape. 
With that misfanned spright he backe returnd agalne. 
Spenser, F. Q.,1. 1. 55. 
misformation (mis-fdr-ma'shon), . [< mis- 1 
+ formation.} An irregularity of formation; 
malformation. 
misfortunate (mis-f6r'tu-nat), a. [< mi*'- 1 + 
fortunate.} If. Producing misfortune. 2. 
Unfortunate. 
We were the poorest of all, madam, and have been mis- 
fortunate from the beginning. Mi--' Burney, Cecilia, i. 11. 
That misfortunate wasting of his strength. 
Sir a. Taylor, Philip Van Artevelde, II., Iv. 4, 
misfortune (mis-fdr'tun), n. [< ww- 1 + for- 
tune.] 1. Ill fortune ; especially, adverse for- 
tune for which the sufferer is not directly re- 
sponsible ; adversity. 
And never dare misfortune cross her foot 
Shak., M. of V., Ii. 4. 36. 
2. An unfortunate event or circumstance ; a 
mishap or accident ; anything that causes harm 
or disappointment : as, he had the misfortune 
to break his leg; it was his misfortune, not his 
fault. 
By misfortunes was my life prolong'd, 
To tell sad stories of my own mishaps. 
SAot., C. of E., I. 1. 120. 
By misfortune his deslgn'd Alterations did not arrive at 
Oxford till the Book was almost Printed off. 
Mum I'h; II, Aieppo to Jerusalem, Pref. 
For the purposes of the present discussion [upon bank- 
ruptcy "caused by misfortune without any misconduct 
on the debtor's part "I, misfortune Is equivalent to somu 
adverse event not Immediately dependent on the actions 
or will of him who suffers from it, and of so improbable a 
character that no prudent man would take It Into his calcu- 
lations In reference to the interests either of himself or of 
others. Fry, L. J., L. R. 20 Q. B. 816. 
3. A lapse from virtue. [Colloq.] 
"M you please, ma'am, I had a misfortune, ma'am," re- 
plied the girl, casting down her eyes. "What, have you 
not been married ? " " No, ma'am, not yet" 
K, Midshipman Easy, Hi. 
misgett (mis-get'), r. t. [ME. 
+ geti.] To get wrongly or unlawfully; pro- 
cure by unlawful means. 
Of that the! were first misyrt. 
Oower, Coat. Amant., vili. 
Leave, faytor, qulckely that mugotten weft 
To him that hath It better justifyde. 
Spciiter, F. Q., VL L 18. 
misgiet, v. t. See misguy. 
misgive (mis-giv'), r.: pret. misgare, pp. mis- 
ijii'i'ii, ppr. misgiving. [< mi*- 1 + gite^. Cf. mi*- 
fin-ill 'cc.] I. trans. If. To give or grant amiss. 
I knew nothing of any of their liberty mityiccn or mis- 
used, till about a fortnight since. 
Abp. Laud, Works, V. 264. 
2. To give doubt or apprehension to ; make ap- 
prehensive; cause to hesitate: used of the mind, 
heart, conscience, etc., with a pronoun for ob- 
ject, or with the object unexpressed. 
Surely those unarmed and Petitioning People needed 
not have bin so formidable to any but to such whose con- 
sciences misgave them bow 111 they had deserv'd of the 
People. Milton, Eikonoklastes, Iv. 
Her mind mayor by a she heard 
That 'twas his wedding day. 
Yuung Bekie (Child's Ballads, IV. U). 
Emmy's mind somehow misgave her about her friend. 
Rebecca's wit, spirits, and accomplishments troubled her 
with a rueful disquiet Thackeray, Vanity Fair, xxv. 
Il.t in trails. 1. To give way to doubt ; be ap- 
prehensive ; hesitate. 
We shrink at near hand, and fearfully tnuyioe. 
Bp. Hall, Calling of Moses. 
2. To give way; break down. 
Plans misrjive and prospects lour and look dreary on 
every side of me. T. Chalmers, Lect on Romans, xliv. 
misgiving (mis-giv'ing), n. [Verbal n. of mi*- 
gitf, i\] A failing of confidence ; doubt ; dis- 
trust . 
She boasts a confidence she does not hold; 
. . . conscious of her crimes, she feels instead 
A cold magimiuj, and a killing dread. 
Cowper, Conversation, L 770. 
misgo (mis-go'), . i. ; pret. muneent, pp. mis- 
gone, ppr. misgoing. \\ ME. misgon (= Ml). 
misgiten); < mi*- 1 '+ go, v.] If. To go wrong; 
go astray. 
I wot wel by the cradel I have misyo; 
Here llth the miller and his wif also. 
Chaucer, Reeve's Tale, 1. 335. 
jif any man base in court mys-gayne, 
To porter warde he schalle be tane, 
Ther to a-byde the lordes wylle. 
Babea Book (E. E. T. S.), p. 310. 
Lord, how was I misgone? how easie 'tis to erre ! 
Marston, Dutch Courtezan, ii. 1. 
2. To miscarry. [Bare.] 
Some whole fleet* of cargoes . . . had ruinously mis- 
gone. Carlyle, Reminiscences, 1. 160. 
misgoggle, r. t. See misgruggle. 
misgovern (mis -guv 'era), v. t. [< mi*- 1 + 
gorern.] To govern ill; administer unfaith- 
fully. 
His figure [Vulcan's!, 
Both In visage and of stature. 
Is lothly *ni mtiynetoiu. 
Ootcer, Coat. Amant, T. 
misgrafft (mis-graf), v. t. [< mi*-l + </raff*.] 
The old and correct form of mixgrnft. See 
The course of true lore never did run smooth ; 
But either It was different In blood, . . . 
O^^/rfinr^o^r^ a LLm 
.. (mis-graft'), v. t. [< wi*- 1 + graft-.] 
it amiss; graft on a wrong or unsuitable 
stock. 
misgreett, r. t. [< mi*-l + grcetl.] To err or 
offend in greeting or saluting. 
e of this brotherhood inu;rreet another, let 
(amends) with thirty peace. 
Quoted In Kmjluh iW (K. E. T. s.), Int, p. xvllL 
misgroundedt (mis-groun'ded), a. [< mi*- 1 
grounded.] Not well grounded: ill-founded. 
Donne, The Cross. 
misgrowth (mis-groth'), n. [< mi*- 1 + growth.] 
An abnormal growth ; an excrescence. 
Medueval charity and medlnval chastity are manlfeaUy 
mif'trovtla ... of the Ideas of kindness and pnreneaa. 
M. Arnold, Last tssays, Pref. 
misgruggle, misguggle (mis-grug'l, -gug'l), 
r. t. ; pret. and pp. mmgruggled, misguggled, ppr. 
misgrvggling, misguggling. [Also misgoggle; < 
mi*- 1 + gruggle, rumple, disorder; origin ob- 
scure.] To mangle or disfigure; rumple; han- 
dle roughly. [Scotch.] 
Donald had been misyuggled by ane of these doctors 
about Paris. Scott, Waveriey, xvllL 
misguess (mis-ges'), r. t. or i. [< mi*- 1 + 
guess.] To guess wrongly or erroneously. 
Some false shrewes there be hee mysse gesseth amonge. 
Sir T. More, Woriu, p. 076. 
misguggle, r. See misgruggle. 
misguidance (mis-gi'dansj, n. [< mi*- 1 + guid- 
ance.] Bad or erroneous guidance ; harmful di- 
rection or advice ; evil influence over thought 
or action. 
By causing an errour In ... his judgment, to cause an 
errour In his choice too; the misguidance of which must 
naturally engage him in those courses that directly tend to 
his destruction. SoutA, Works, I. xii. 
Grievous misgttidante of the artisans by their advisers. 
W. K. Oreg, Misc. Essays, 1st ser., p. 8. 
j^gg,^ (rms-gjd'), r. f. ; pret. and pp. tw- 
,niiilr<l, ppr. miaguidintl. [< mi*- 1 + guide.] 
To guide erroneously; give a wrong direc- 
tion to; lead astray in action or thought. 
Now the fair goddess. Fortune, 
Fall deep in lore with thee ; and her great charms 
Mitguide thy opposers' swords ! Shak., Cor., I. 6. 23. 
The chariot of government would be often, and danger- 
ously, mintfuvted by rash unskilful drivers, did not an In- 
visible hand hold the reins, and gently direct the course 
of It Bp. Atterbury, Sermons, I. vlll. 
Vanity Is more apt to minguMe men than false reasoning. 
Ooldtmith, Polite Learning, rill. 
2. To ill-use; maltreat. [Scotch.], syn. L To 
order of strength; they agree In denoting untoward events, 
produced by causes presumably independent of the suf- 
ferer. Mischance is the lightest word for that which is real- 
ly disagreeable ; a mishap may be comparatively a trivial 
thing ; both generally apply to the experience of Individu- 
als. Misfortune is the most general of these words ; a mis- 
fortune Is a really serious matter ; it may befall a person, 
family, or nation. A very serious misfortune atfrctitin 
large numbers Is a calamity, the central idea of which Is 
wide-spread and general mischief. A disaster is not neces- 
sarily wide-spread; it is generally sudden, and Its inipor- 
things. A disaster may befall an Individual ; a calamity 
can come to an individual only by affecting his welfare 
largely, or bringing him Into deep distress. A catastrophe 
ia strictly a great misfortune bringing things to an end. 
a final crash, a finishing stroke : as, this brought on the 
catastrophe. See affliction. 
misfortunet (mis-tor'tun), r. i. [< mittfortiine, 
ii.] To fall out unfortunately or unhappily ; 
fail or miscarry. 
The Qneene, after marlage, was conceiued with childr, 
hut It mitfortuned. Sttiw, Chron., Pref. 
misfortunedt (mis-for'tund), o. [< misfortune + 
-. if-'.] Attended by misfortune; unfortunate. 
Charity hath the Judging of so many private grievances 
in a misfortuned wedlock. 
Milton, Tetrachordon. (Latham.) 
misforyevet, c. t. and i. See minforgire. 
He [Adam] for misgocernaunce 
Was drive out of his heigh prosperitee 
To labour, and to helle, and to meschaunce. 
Chaucer, Monk's Tale, 1. 22. 
2. Misgovernment. 
He [the priori confessed that he had a vision Indeed ; 
which was, that the Realm of England should be destroy- 
ed through the Misgoverttance of King Richard. 
Baiter, Chronicles, p. 118. 
). a. 1. Ill or 
by bad ad- 
ministration, as of public affairs: as, a mi'*- 
governed country or people. 2f. Led astray; 
misguided ; ill-behaved. 
Rude, misgooern'd hands from windows' tops 
Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard s head. 
Shak., Rich. II., v. i 6. 
(mis-guv'ern-ment), n. [< 
_ a t.] 1. Bad government, man- 
agement, or administration of public or private 
affairs. 
Men lay the blame of those evils whereof they know not 
the ground upon public mi*<lpernment. Raleigh, Es&ay. 
2. Want of self-restraint; irregularity in con- 
duet ; misbehavior. 
Eschue betymes the whlrlpoole of misgouernment. 
Oascoiffne, To the Youth of England. 
guidance ; guidance into error; hence, trespass ; 
error; sin. 
Nor spirit, nor Angell. though they man snrpas, 
Could make amends to God for man s mtsguyde, 
Spenser, Hymn of Heavenly Love, L 144. 
misguidingt (mis-gi'ding), n. Mismanagement. 
We have an ower guld caus this dey. 
Through misgydins to spilL 
Battle of lialrinnes (Child's Ballads, VII. 225). 
misguiltt ( mis-gilt' ),n. [< mi*- 1 + guilft,n.] Of- 
fense; fault. 
For what maner muarlt hastow me forsake? 
William of Palerne (E. E. T. S.\ 1. 1541. 
misgurn (mis-gern'), n. [< F. misgurn; origin 
obscure.] A kind of loach, Misgumus fosfilis. 
Misgurnus (mis-ger'nus), . [NL. (Lac^pede. 
genus of Cobiiidff or loaches, < 
the numerous barbels, which are 10 or 12 in 
number. It comprises the misgurn, M. fotsHis of cen- 
tral and eastern Europe, and related Asiatic loaches. The 
specific name of the misgurn (/oniju) refers to its bor- 
rowing in the mud : It U not a fossil flsh. 
misguyt, '' t. [ME. tnisgyett, misgirn; < mi*- 1 H 
guy 1 .] To misguide. 
Too wistc he wel he hadde himself tnumed. 
Chanter, Monk's Tale. L 64J. 
