Word Study
Mis-
CIDE DICTIONARY
Mis-, [In words of Teutonic origin, fr. AS. mis-; akin to D. mis-, G. miss-, OHG. missa-, missi-, Icel. & Dan. mis-, Sw. miss-, Goth. missa-; orig., a p. p. from the root of G. meiden to shun, OHG. mīdan, AS. mī (Miss to fail of). In words from the French, fr. OF. mes-, F. mé-, mes-, fr. L. minus less (see Minus). In present usage these two prefixes are commonly confounded.].
A prefix used adjectively and adverbially in the sense of amiss , wrong , ill , wrongly , unsuitably ; as, misdeed, mislead, mischief, miscreant. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Mis-, prefix added to verbs and verbal derivatives: meaning 'amiss', 'badly', 'wrongly', 'unfavourably' (mislead; misshapen; mistrust).
Mis-, prefix occurring in a few words adopted from French meaning 'badly', 'wrongly', 'amiss', 'ill-', or having a negative force (misadventure; mischief).
Etymology
OF mes- ult. f. L minus (see MINUS): assim. to MIS-(1)
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