mishallowed 
mishallowed (mis-hal'od), a. [< mis- 1 + hal- 
lowed.] Consecrated to evil uses, or by unhal- 
lowed means. 
I do not find David climbing up those mishallowed hills. 
Bp. Hall, Contemplations, iii. 29. 
Had set upon his conqueror's flesh the seal 
Of his mMnlloiml and anointed steel. 
A. C. Swinburne, Tristram of Lyonesse, 1. 
mishandle (mis-han'dl), . t.\ pret. and pp. mis- 
handled, ppr. mishandling. [< mis- 1 + handle.] 
To maltreat. 
Verye fewe be ouer manye to be so wrongefullye myite- 
handeled and punyshed. Sir T. More, Works, p. 899. 
mishanter, mischanter (mi-shan'ter), n. [A 
dial, corruption of misaunter, misaventure: see 
misadventure. The form mischanter is prob. 
due to association with mischance.] Misfor- 
tune; disaster; an unlucky chance. [Scotch.] 
mishap (mis-hap'), n. [< ME. mishaji; < mis- 1 
+ hap 1 , n.] 1. An unfortunate or evil hap; 
mischance ; misfortune. 
Many grete mishappes, many hard trauaile. 
Hob. of Brunne, p. 175. 
Secure from worldly chances and mishap*. 
Shak., Tit. And., 1. 1. 152. 
2. A lapse from virtue. [Colloq.] 
Lady Betty was the friend and correspondent of Swift. 
In early life she made a -mishap. 
Cunningham, Note to Walpole's Letters, I. 96. 
= Syn. 1. Mischance, Disaster, etc. See misfortune. 
misnapt (mis-hap'), v. i. [ME. misliappen; < 
mis- 1 + hap 1 , v.] To happen or turn out ill; 
go wrong. 
Gawein was euer pensif for his vncle that he hadde lef te 
in Carmelide, that hym sholde eny thinge myshappe vpon 
the wey. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 471. 
For eyther I mot sleen him at the gappe, 
Or he moot sleen me, if that me myshappe. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, 1. 788. 
I fear all is not well, 
Something 's mishapped, that he is come without her. 
B. Jonson, Tale of a Tub, iii. 1. 
mishappent (mis-hap'n), v. i. [< ME. mishap- 
nen; (.mis- 1 + happen 1 .] 1. To happen ill. 
His f earef ull freends weare out the wof ull night, . . . 
Affraid least to themselves the like mishappen might. 
Spenser, V. Q., I. iii. 20. 
2. To fare ill. 
Boste and deignouse pride and ille avisement 
Mishapnes oftentide. Rob. of Brunne, p. 289. 
mishappinesst (mis-hap'i-nes). n. [< mis- 1 + 
happiness.] Unhappiness ; wretchedness ; mis- 
ery. 
What wit haue wordes so prest and forceable 
That may containe my great mtehappintss? 
Wyatt, Complaint upon Loue. 
mishappyt (mis-hap'i), a. [ME. mi/shoppy; < 
mis- 1 + liappy.] Unhappy. 
Sorweful and mishappy is the condition of a poure beg- 
gar. Chaucer, Tale of Melibeus. 
mishear (mis-her'), v. t. and i.; pret. and pp. mis- 
heard, ppr. mishearing. [< ME. misheren, < AS. 
mtshyran, disobey, < mis- + hi/ran, hear, obey: 
see mis- 1 and hear.] To mistake in hearing. 
It is not so ; thou hast misspoke, mi&heard. 
Shak., K. John, iii. 1. 4. 
misheedt (mis-hed'), . [< mis- 1 + heed 1 .] 
Want of heed or care ; heedlessness. 
Daily heer to die, 
In Cares, and Feares, and Miserie, 
By miss-heed, or by miss-hap. 
Sylvester, tr. of H. Smith's Micro-cosmo-graphia. 
mishmash (mish'mash), n. [A varied redupli- 
cation of mash 1 . Of. equiv. G. mischmasch 
(= Dan. mishmash), a varied reduplication of 
mischen, mix.] A hotchpotch; a medley. 
A chaos, a confused lump, a formelesse masse, a inixtt- 
mash. Florio, p. 95. (Hattiwell.) 
Their language . . . [is] a mish-mash of Arabic and Por- 
tuguese. Sir T. Herbert, Travels in Africa, p. 27. 
Mishmi or Mishmee bitter. See Coptis. 
Mishnah (mish'na), n. [Also Mishna; Heb. 
mishndh, repetition, explanation, < shdndh, re- 
peat.] 1. In Jewish, lit., a collection of halach- 
oth or binding precepts and legal decisions 
deduced by the ancient rabbis from the Penta- 
teuch, and itself forming a second or oral law. 
See halachah. These halachoth, which had been pre- 
served for several centuries by tradition among the doc- 
tors of the synagogue, were gradually committed to writ- 
ing. The first who attempted to reduce them to order was 
Hillel I. (B. C. 75-A. D. 10), president of the Sanhedrim, 
who arranged them in six Sedarim or orders. The final 
redaction, however, was made by Rabbi Jehudah, surnamed 
" the holy," about the end of the second century of our era. 
The Mishnah is divided into six parts, each of which con- 
tains a number of treatises, which are subdivided into 
chapters, and these again into paragraphs or mishnoth. 
The first part relates to agriculture ; the second regulates 
the manner of observing festivals ; the third treats of wo- 
men and inatrinHMiiul cases; the fourth of damages and 
3792 
losses in trade, etc. ; the fifth is on " holy things " that is, 
oblations, sacrifices, etc.; and the sixth treats of the sev- 
eral sorts of purification. The Mishnah forms the text on 
which the Gemara is based. See Gemara and Talmud. 
The ilishnah consists chiefly of Halakhah ; there is, 
comparatively speaking, little Agadah to be found in it. 
It is not, however, as many think, either a commentary 
on the Halakhic portions of the Pentateuch, or on the 
ordinances of the Sopherim , or on both together. It rather 
presupposes the knowledge of and respect for both the 
Mosaic and the Sopheric laws, and it only discusses, and 
finally decides on , the best mode and manner of executing 
these. Eneyc. Brit,, XVI. 503. 
2. [I. c.j pi. mishnoth (mish'noth).] A para- 
graph of the Mishnah. 
A mishnah, if genuine, never begins with a passage of 
the Pentateuch, and even comparatively seldom brings 
direct proof from or gives reference to it. 
Eneyc. Brit., XVI. 503. 
Mishnaic (mish-na'ik), a. [< Mishna(h) + -ir.] 
Of or pertaining to the Mishnah; traditional. 
The weighty reference to the Mishnaic usage remains, 
however, in full force, however conservative be our deci- 
sion on the date of Chronicles. Eneyc. Brit., VIII. 561. 
Mishnic (mish'nik), a. [< Mishna(h) + -ic.] 
Of or pertaining to the Mishnah. 
The wife whom Eashi, according to Mishnic precept 
(Aboth, v. 21), married at the age of eighteen. 
Eneyc. Brit., XX. 284. 
mishnoth, . Plural of mishnah, 2. 
misimaginationt (mis-i-maj-i-na'shon), . [< 
mis- 1 + imagination.] Wrong imagination or 
conception; delusion. 
Who can without indignation look upon the prodigies 
which this mis-imaffination produces in that other sex ? 
Bp. Hall, Kighteous Mammon. 
misimprove (mis-im-prov'), c. t.; pret. and pp. 
misimproved,pipr. misimproving. [< mis- 1 + im- 
prove 1 .] To fail to improve or make a good 
use of ; misapply; neglect opportunities of im- 
proving: as, to misimprove time, talents, ad- 
vantages. 
If a spiritual talent be misimproved, it must be taken 
away. South, Works, XI. xii. 
misimprovement (mis-im-prov'ment), n. [< 
mis- 1 + improvement.] Ill use or employment ; 
failure to improve ; misapplication. 
Their neglect and misimprovement of that season. 
South, Works, XI. xii. 
misincline (mis-in-klin'), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
misiiiclined, ppr. misinclining. [< mis- 1 + in- 
cline.] To give a wrong or evil inclination or 
direction to. 
Our judgments are perverted, our wills depraved, and 
our affections misinclined, and set upon vile and unworthy 
objects. South, Works, X. i. 
misinfer (mis-in-fer'), .; pret. and pp. misin- 
ferred, ppr. misinf erring . [< mis- 1 + infer.] I. 
trans. To infer wrongly. Hooker, Eccles. Pol- 
ity, v. 52. 
II. intrans. To draw a wrong inference. 
misinform (mis-in-form'), r. [< mis- 1 + in- 
form 1 .] I. trans. To inform erroneously or 
falsely; make a wrong statement to ; give wrong 
or misleading instruction to. 
That he might not through any mistake . . . misinform 
me. Boyle, Works, I. 681. 
Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised, 
She dictate false, and misinform the will 
To do what God expressly hath forbid. 
Milton, P. L., ix. 365. 
II. t intrans. To testify falsely ; make false 
or misleading statements. 
You misinforme against him for concluding with the 
Papists. Bp. Mountagu, Appeal to Ceesar, xxil. 
misinformant (mis-in-for'mant), . [< misin- 
form + -ant.] One who misinforms or gives 
false information. 
misinformation (mis-in-for-ma'shon), . [< 
mis- 1 + information.] Wrong information ; false 
account or intelligence. 
Let not such [military commanders] be discouraged (who 
deserve well) by misinformations, and for the satisfying 
the humours and ambitions of others. 
Bacon, Advice to Villiers, 23. 
fflisinformer (mis-in-for'mer), . One who 
gives wrong information. 
Those slanderous tongues of his misinformera. 
Bp. Hall, Account of Himself. 
misinspire (mis-in-spir'), r. t. ; pret. andpp. mis- 
inspired, ppr. misinspiring. [< mis- 1 + iiiKjiirt:] 
To inspire falsely. 
Some god misinspired 
Or man took from him his own equal mind. 
Chapman, Odyssey, xiv. 
misinstruct (mis-in-strukf), v. t. [< mis- 1 + 
instruct.'] To instruct amiss. 
Let us not think that our Saviour did miitinstruct his dis- 
ciples. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, v. 49. 
misken 
misinstruction(mis-m-struk'shon), n. [< mis- 1 
+ ins/ruction.] Wrong instruction. 
Correcting by the clearnesse of their owne judgement 
the errors of their mi#-im*lritt'li<nt. 
Milton, Apology for Smcctymnuus. 
misintelligence (mis-in-tel'i-jens), n. [< F. 
nii'niiitelliijence; as mis-' 2 + intelligence.] 1. 
Wrong or false information. 
Mr. Lort was certainly misinformed. ... I showed one 
or two of them [tales] to a pel-son since my recovery, who 
may have mentioned them, and occasioned Mr. Lort's mit- 
intflliyence. Walpvle, Letters, VII. 167. (Davfes.) 
2f. Misunderstanding; disagreement. 
He lamented the misintelligerux he observed to be be- 
tween their majesties. Clarendon, Life, II. 329. 
misintend (mis-in-tend'), v. t. [< mis- 1 + in- 
lend.] To misdirect ; aim ill. 
When suddenly, with twincle of her eye, 
The Damzell broke his misintended dart. 
Spenser, Sonnets, xvi. 
misinterpret (mis-in-ter'pret), r. t. [< F. mes- 
interpreter; as wii*- 2 4- interpret.] To interpret 
erroneously; do the work of interpreter incor- 
rectly or falsely ; understand or explain in a 
wrong sense. 
The experience of your own uprightness misinterpreted 
will put ye in mind to give it [this discourse] free audi- 
ence and generous construction. 
Milton, Divorce, To Parliament. 
Such is the final fact I fling you, sirs, 
To mouth and mumble and to misinterpret. 
Brooming, Ring and Book, I. 322. 
= Svn. See translate. 
mismterpretable (mis-in-ter'pre-ta-bl), a. [< 
misinterpret + -able.] Liable to be misinter- 
preted. Donne. 
misinterpretation (mis-in-ter-pre-ta'shon), u. 
[< F. m&interpretation, < mesinterpreter, misin- 
terpret: see misinterpret.'] Erroneous inter- 
pretation; a wrong understanding or explana- 
tion. 
In a manner less liable to misinterpretation. 
D. Stewart, Philos. Essays, i. 3. 
misinterpreter (mis-in-ter'pre-ter), . One 
who interprets erroneously. 
Whom, as a mis -interpreter of Christ, I openly protest 
against. Milton, Divorce, To Parliament. 
misintreatt (mis-in-tref), v. t. Same as mis- 
en treat. 
Had a man done neuer so much harme, . . . if he might 
once come into the Temple, it was not lawful for any to 
miiintreate him. (Jrafton, Chronicle, vi., an. 8522. 
misjoin (mis-join'), v. t. [< mis- 1 + join.] To 
join unfitly, improperly, or inappropriately. 
Luther, more mistaking what he read, 
Misjoins the sacred body with the bread. 
Dryden, Hind and Panther, ii. 142. 
misjoinder (mis-join'der), n. [< mis- 1 + join- 
der.] In law, a joining in one suit or action of 
causes or of parties that ought not to be so 
joined. 
misjudge (mis-juj'), v. ; pret. andpp. misjudged, 
ppr. misjudging. [< mis- 1 + judge.] I. trans. 
To err in judging of; judge erroneously or 
wrongfully. 
Clarendon might misjudge the motive of his retirement. 
Johnson, Waller. 
=Syn. To misapprehend, misunderstand, misconceive. 
II. intrans. To err in judgment; form erro- 
neous opinions or notions. 
Too long, misjudging, have I thought thee wise. 
Fenton, in Pope's Odyssey, iv. 38. 
Have we misjudged here, . . . 
Enfeebled whom we sought to fortify, 
Made an archbishop and undone a saint? 
Browning, Ring and Book, II. 212. 
misjudgment, misjudgement (mis-juj'ment), 
n. [< mix- 1 + judgment.] Erroneous judgment; 
error in judging or determining. 
miskal (mis'kal), n. [Also miscal and mitrnl, 
mithkal, metgal, metical, etc.; < Ar. mithqal, a 
weight (used in weighing), < tliaqala, be heavy, 
tliii/l, weight.] An Arabian unit of weight, be- 
ing 5 (or, according to others, V 1 ) of a derham 
(which see). In Constantinople and Smyrna the miskal 
is 4.8 grams, or 74 grains troy. 
miskeept (mis-kep'), r. t. [< mis- 1 + keep.] To 
keep ill or wrongly. 
Goods are great Ills to those that cannot vse them : 
Misers mis-keep, and Prodigals mis-spend them. 
Sylvester, Memorials of Mortality, st. 75. 
misken 1 (mis-ken'), v. t.; pret. and pp. miskeii- 
ncti, ppr. iiiixkciniiiit/. [<(>-! + ken 1 .] To be 
or appear to be ignorant of; mistake for an- 
other; misunderstand. [Scotch.] 
Were I you, Ranald, I would be for mixkenniny Sir Dun- 
can [and] keeping my own secret. 
Scott, Legend of Montrose, xiii. 
