misdeem

English

Etymology

Late 14th century, from Middle English misdemen, equivalent to mis- +‎ deem. Cognate with Icelandic misdæma (“to misjudge”).

Verb

misdeem (third-person singular simple present misdeems, present participle misdeeming, simple past and past participle misdeemed)

1. To misjudge, to deem wrongly.
   • 1500s, Edmund Spenser, sonnet:

     The doubt which ye misdeem, fair love, is vain, / That fondly fear to lose your liberty; / […]

   • 1600, Edward Fairfax, The Jerusalem Delivered of Tasso, X, xxxviii:

     Nor say I this for that I aught misdeem / That Egypt's promis'd succors fail us might.

References

• “misdeem”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.