Dictionary

misheal en · VERB

Etymology

From mis- + heal.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To heal improperly.
   • Such decision of the court entitled the plaintiff to temporary total disability benefits, because of the deformity, residual edema (accumulation of fluid), hip pain, swelling in the lower leg, phlebitis (inflammation of a vein), and knock-knees, all resulting from the mishealing of the plaintiff's femur fracure. 1949, Roscoe Nelson Gray, Louise J. Gordy, Attorneys' Textbook of Medicine - Volume 1, page 8-166:
   • It's a loss that occurred when his wife's injuries from the accident healed or mishealed in such а manner as to now cause her to be unable to have sex without pain. 1987, California. Court of Appeal (4th Appellate District)., page 6:
   • For example, Skeleton L at the site of Dunstable was an adult male who earlier in his life had suffered a fracture of his left leg, which mishealed, subsequently shortening his leg significantly, which would have left him with a limp and noticeable deformity 2013, W Southwell-Wright, “Past perspectives: What can archaeology offer disability studies?”, in M. Wappett, K. Arndt, editors, Emerging perspectives on disability studies:
   • Her hand ached and she looked down to see an ugly scar stretching across the ball of her thumb. It was already old and long since mishealed. 2004, David Randall, Clovermead, page 145:
2. (rare) To provide the incorrect treatment to someone one is attempting to heal.
   • Some “famous doctors" referred patients to him that they could not heal or those they had mishealed. 1980, Beijing Review - Issues 1-26, page 26:
   • Akras touched her scarred cheeks, tracing the hard ridges of deliberately mishealed flesh. 1992, Cheryl J. Franklin, The Inquisitor, page 424:

Forms