mismove

English

Alternative forms

• mismave (dialectal)

Etymology

From mis- +‎ move.

Pronunciation

• (verb) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈmuːv/
• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪsmuːv/

Verb

mismove (third-person singular simple present mismoves, present participle mismoving, simple past and past participle mismoved)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To move wrongly, incorrectly, or in error.
   • 1904, Seumas MacManus, In Chimney Corners: Merry Tales of Irish Folk Lore:

     Good morra, Willie," says he, with the same old vicious smile. "Good morra and good luck," says Willie, as little as ever mismoved, "won't ye sit down and have a pick of dinner with us?"

   • 1971, Steven Daniels, How 2 Gerbils, 20 Goldfish, 200 Games, 2000 Books, and I Taught Them How to Read:

     I screamed out a concession and the kids, disgruntled, wandered back to their own games. Then I asked to watch Marty play Brian. During this match, too, Marty mismoved the kings. Brian didn't seem to notice. I sent them both to the nurse.

   • 2013, Gertrude Whiting, Old-Time Tools & Toys of Needlework:

     She could card silks accurately, and even pick up with the needle's eye the fine end in the broken cocoon, and wind it ofl and reel it with a hand that never wavered or mismoved.”

2. (transitive, UK dialectal, Northern England) To disturb; trouble; to disconcert; alarm; flurry.

   Synonym: dismay

Noun

mismove (plural mismoves)

1. A wrong move.
   • 1896, The Northwestern Reporter:

     If he was at fault at all, it must have been some unconscious misjudgment, mistake, or mismove in manipulating the brake or in applying the reverse current, not disclosed by the evidence. Such misjudgment, mismove, or mistake [...]

   • 1999, June Strong, Project Sunlight:

     Yet as I read what took place there, I had the feeling something very important was going on, that perhaps if Christ had made the slightest mismove, it might have been all up for humanity.

   • 2009, Neal E. Wixson, Echoes from the Boys of Company H:

     The only drawback, the only mismove that has been made by Gilmore on this campaigne was the false + fatal one of attacking by Storm the hell-hole “Wagner” on the night of July 18/63.