misease

English

Etymology

From Middle English myssease, from Old French mesaise, from mes- (“mis-”) + aise (“ease”). Equivalent to mis- +‎ ease. Cognate with French mésaise.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈiːz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈiz/
• Rhymes: -iːz

Noun

misease

1. (archaic) Suffering, distress.
   • 1598, Homer, translated by George Chapman, Seaven Bookes of the Iliades of Homere, Prince of Poets, Iohn Windet, page 124:

     Downe fell he ſounding, and the king, thus plaide with his miſeaſe: […]

   • 1602, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Parſons tale”, in The workes of Geffray Chaucer‎^[1]:

     And moꝛeouer, the miſeaſe of hell ſhall bee in delaute of meat and dꝛinke.

   • 1812, Alexander Ross, Helenore: Or the Fortunate Shepherdess, A. Smith, page 76:

     And Nory's heart was at the tale right sair,
     But her misease came frae another care:
     Her heart for LINDY now began to heal,
     And she's in swidder great to think him leal: […]

   • 1875, Charles Cowden Clarke, The Canterbury tales of Chaucer, with notes by T. Tyrwhitt., page 196:

     And therefore saith Job to God, ' Suffer, Lord, that I may a while bewail and beweep, ere I go without returning to the dark land, covered with the darkness of death ; to the land of misease and of darkness, whereas is the shadow of death; whereas is no order nor ordinance, but grisly dread that ever shall last.'