Dictionary

mistake en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [mɪˈstæɪk] (Australia)
• [mɪˈsteːk] (Canada)
• (General-American) audio
• [mɪˈstɛjk] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /mɪˈsteɪk/
• [mɪˈsteɪk] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

From Middle English mistaken, from Old Norse mistaka (“to take in error, to miscarry”); equivalent to mis- + take. Cognate with Icelandic mistaka (“to mistake”), Swedish missta (“to mistake”) (before apocope misstaga). The noun, which replaced earlier mistaking, is derived from the verb. Compare Swedish misstag (“mistake”, noun), Faroese mistak (“mitake”, noun), Icelandic mistak (“mistake”, noun).

Meanings

1. An error.
   • There were too many mistakes in the test that, unfortunately, made you fail.
   • The statement also recognised that Eta’s “mistakes or mistaken decisions” had led to the deaths of people who had nothing to do with the conflict, both in the Basque country and beyond. 2018 April 20, Sam Jones, “'We are truly sorry': Eta apologises for four decades of deadly violence”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 27 Apr 2019:
   • He always made mistakes on purpose.
   • 1877, Henry Heth, quoting Robert E. Lee, in "Causes of the Defeat of Gen. Lee's Army at the Battle of GettysburgOpinions of Leading Confederate Soldiers.", Southern Historical Society Papers (1877), editor Rev. J. WM. Jones http://books.google.com/books?id=iDIFAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA292&dq=lee+%22mistakes+were+made%22&hl=en&ei=fchaTbu4L8L98AaVs4n-DQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=lee%20%22mistakes%20were%20made%22&f=false After it is all over, as stupid a fellow as I am can see that mistakes were made. I notice, however, that my mistakes are never told me until it is too late.
   • He, that would write exactly, muſt avoid a Barbarous Pronunciation, and conſider for facility, or thorow miſtake, many words are not ſounded after the beſt dialect. Such as […] Wun, one. 1687, Chriſtopher Cooper, “Chap. XIX: Of Barbarous Speaking”, in The Engliſh Teacher, London: John Richardſon, for the Author, pages 77-78; republished Menston: Scolar Press, 1969:
2. A pitch which was intended to be pitched in a hard-to-hit location, but instead ends up in an easy-to-hit place.

Forms

Deriveds

category mistake · honest mistake · calculated mistake · misfuck · and no mistake · mistakeproof · make no mistake · make a mistake · Wards Mistake · mistakeless · by mistake · mistakeful

Synonyms

solecism · stumble · thinko · flub · oopsy · screwup · gaffe · inaccuracy · disadventure · misadventure · blooper · lapsus · slip-up · lapse · slipup · floater · erroneity · boner · fuckup · misstep · boo-boo · bloomer · mess-up · aberration · clanger · fault · break · slip · wrength · goof · blunder · faux pas · error · fluff · cock-up · mistake · howler

Translations (219)

ur غَلَط (error — see also error) · ps غلط (error — see also error) · es trabacuenta (error — see also error) · as ভুল (error — see also error) · fi möhläys (error — see also error) · sh по̀грјешка (error — see also error) · fa-ira اِشْتِباه (error — see also error) · kk қате (error — see also error) · ur غَلَط فَہْمی (error — see also error) · ba хата (error — see also error) · eo eraro (error — see also error) · sl zmota (error — see also error) · tg хато (error — see also error) · sh grȅška (error — see also error) · fr échappe (error — see also error) · kmr şaşî (error — see also error) · ja エラー (error — see also error) · vec eror (error — see also error) · bg гре́шка (error — see also error) · nl fout (error — see also error) · ia error (error — see also error) · ota غلط (error — see also error) · rsk хиба (error — see also error) · hy սխալ (error — see also error) · lv kļūda (error — see also error) · pdt Fäla (error — see also error) · no feil (error — see also error) · sk chyba (error — see also error) · ur بُھول (error — see also error) · ro greșeală (error — see also error) · hi चूक (error — see also error) · nl blunder (error — see also error) · uz xato (error — see also error) · si වැරදීම (error — see also error) · fr erreur (error — see also error) · hu hiba (error — see also error) · wuu 錯誤 /错误 (error — see also error) · si වරදක් (error — see also error) · id kekeliruan (error — see also error) · te పొరపాటు (error — see also error) · rsk гришка (error — see also error) · el σφάλμα (error — see also error) · sh грје̏шка (error — see also error) · lad yierro (error — see also error) · nb feilgrep (error — see also error) · la error (error — see also error) · nl onjuistheid (error — see also error) · fo villa (error — see also error) · ja ミス (error — see also error) · lt klaida (error — see also error) · bn ভুল (error — see also error) · arz غلطة (error — see also error) · kea asnera (error — see also error) · ky жаңылыш (error — see also error) · da fejl (error — see also error) · kn ತಪ್ಪು (error — see also error) · fa-ira خَطا (error — see also error) · ml പിശക് (error — see also error) · ar غَلْطَة (error — see also error) · be памы́лка (error — see also error) · cu блазна (error — see also error) · fi virhe (error — see also error) · hi ग़लती (error — see also error) · az yanlış (error — see also error) · is skyssa (error — see also error) · fr mistake (error — see also error) · ko 착오 (error — see also error) · nb feil (error — see also error) · es error (error — see also error) · ar غَلَط (error — see also error) · tl mali (error — see also error) · el λάθος (error — see also error) · pt engano (error — see also error) · ko 실수 (error — see also error) · ug خاتا (error — see also error) · fi kämmi (error — see also error) · ky каталык (error — see also error) · oc error (error — see also error) · ps تېروتنه (error — see also error) · he שְׁגִיאָה (error — see also error) · af fout (error — see also error) · pl pomyłka (error — see also error) · vi lỗi (error — see also error) · sl napaka (error — see also error) · hi गलती (error — see also error) · hi ख़ता (error — see also error) · sv fel (error — see also error) · uk поми́лка (error — see also error) · my အမှား (error — see also error) · tk ýal–yş (error — see also error) · be хі́ба (error — see also error) · id kesalahan (error — see also error) · yi טעות (error — see also error) · es desacierto (error — see also error) · cs chyba (error — see also error) · fi fiba (error — see also error) · ur خَطا (error — see also error) · tr galat (error — see also error) · ky ката (error — see also error) · tt хата (error — see also error) · ce гӏалат (error — see also error) · sv miss (error — see also error) · alt јастыра (error — see also error) · ang ġedwola (error — see also error) · is villa (error — see also error) · kmr çewtî (error — see also error) · tr yanlış (error — see also error) · ko 미스 (error — see also error) · fi moka (error — see also error) · bg заблужде́ние (error — see also error) · ilo balibad (error — see also error) · cmn 誤 /误 (error — see also error) · ca error (error — see also error) · nl vergissing (error — see also error) · ckb غەلەت (error — see also error) · xal эндү (error — see also error) · az xəta (error — see also error) · ur غَلَطی (error — see also error) · fi haksahdus (error — see also error) · fi erhe (error — see also error) · ota خطا (error — see also error) · es equivocación (error — see also error) · nl misverstand (error — see also error) · ru заблужде́ние (error — see also error) · ko 잘못 (error — see also error) · sk omyl (error — see also error) · tl kamalian (error — see also error) · ar خَطَأ (error — see also error) · th ข้อผิดพลาด (error — see also error) · ms kesilapan (error — see also error) · sh pògrješka (error — see also error) · az qələt (error — see also error) · sh по̀грешка (error — see also error) · fo mistak (error — see also error) · fi lapsus (error — see also error) · tg иштибоҳ (error — see also error) · sv misstag (error — see also error) · ja 過ち (error — see also error) · ff 𞤦𞤮𞥅𞤨𞤢𞤤 (error — see also error) · ota یاڭلیش (error — see also error) · cmn 錯 /错 (error — see also error) · ml തെറ്റ് (error — see also error) · hak 錯誤 /错误 (error — see also error) · bo ནོར་འཁྲུལ (error — see also error) · ky жаңылыштык (error — see also error) · fi lipsahdus (error — see also error) · fi kömmähdys (error — see also error) · mn алдаа (error — see also error) · nan-hbl 錯誤 /错误 (error — see also error) · fr trompe (error — see also error) · hi भूल (error — see also error) · ja 間違い (error — see also error) · sq gabim (error — see also error) · it sbaglio (error — see also error) · fr bêtise (error — see also error) · ru оши́бка (error — see also error) · yue 錯誤 /错误 (error — see also error) · ga botún (error — see also error) · ro eroare (error — see also error) · es desatino (error — see also error) · tg ғалат (error — see also error) · sa अशुद्धि (error — see also error) · kk қателік (error — see also error) · tr hata (error — see also error) · os рӕдыд (error — see also error) · gu ભૂલ (error — see also error) · hi ग़लत फ़हमी (error — see also error) · pl błąd (error — see also error) · uz gʻalat (error — see also error) · fi munaus (error — see also error) · yi גרײַז (error — see also error) · mk гре́шка (error — see also error) · lad yerro (error — see also error) · txb nāki (error — see also error) · km កំហុស (error — see also error) · he שגגה (error — see also error) · ja 誤り (error — see also error) · pt equívoco (error — see also error) · mr चूक (error — see also error) · io eroro (error — see also error) · sh grjȅška (error — see also error) · sh гре̏шка (error — see also error) · ka შეცდომა (error — see also error) · ja 錯誤 (error — see also error) · mt żball (error — see also error) · fr faute (error — see also error) · it errore (error — see also error) · ta பிழை (error — see also error) · sw kosa (error — see also error) · tk ýalňyş (error — see also error) · ht fòt (error — see also error) · hi खता (error — see also error) · cmn 錯誤 /错误 (error — see also error) · az səhv (error — see also error) · ko 에러 (error — see also error) · fi hairahdus (error — see also error) · lo ຂໍ້ຜິດພາດ (error — see also error) · fi erehdys (error — see also error) · kmr xeletî (error — see also error) · nb tabbe (error — see also error) · fi töppäys (error — see also error) · cs omyl (error — see also error) · pt erro (error — see also error) · et viga (error — see also error) · eo miso (error — see also error) · ko 착각 (error — see also error) · sa त्रुटि (error — see also error) · ff boopal (error — see also error) · sh pògreška (error — see also error) · th ความผิดพลาด (error — see also error) · de Fehler (error — see also error) · uk хи́ба (error — see also error) · he טָעוּת (error — see also error) · fa-ira غَلَط (error — see also error) · or ଭୁଲ (error — see also error) · uk по́милка (error — see also error) · lkt wóglušna (error — see also error) · txb triśalñe (error — see also error) · es fallo (error — see also error)

mistake en · VERB

Pronunciation

• [mɪˈstæɪk] (Australia)
• [mɪˈsteːk] (Canada)
• (General-American) audio
• [mɪˈstɛjk] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /mɪˈsteɪk/
• [mɪˈsteɪk] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

From Middle English mistaken, from Old Norse mistaka (“to take in error, to miscarry”); equivalent to mis- + take. Cognate with Icelandic mistaka (“to mistake”), Swedish missta (“to mistake”) (before apocope misstaga). The noun, which replaced earlier mistaking, is derived from the verb. Compare Swedish misstag (“mistake”, noun), Faroese mistak (“mitake”, noun), Icelandic mistak (“mistake”, noun).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To understand wrongly, taking one thing or person for another.
   • Because I don't want to know I didn't want to know I just didn't want to know I just didn't want Mistook the nods for an approval Just ignore the smoke and smile 2003, “Blue”, performed by A Perfect Circle:
   • Sorry, I mistook you for my brother. You look very similar.
   • The reigning error of his life was, that he mistook the love for the practice of virtue, and was indeed not so much a good man, as the friend of goodness. 1777, Samuel Johnson, “Life of the Author”, in The Works of Richard Savage with an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author, volume I, London: T. Evans, page lxi:
   • Don't mistake my kindness for weakness.
   • My father’s purposes have been mistook; c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV,, scene ii]:
2. (obsolete, transitive) To misunderstand (someone).
   • […] at last she so evidently demonstrated her Affection to him to be much stronger than what she bore her own Son, that it was impossible to mistake her any longer. 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter 6, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume I, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book III, page 194:
   • Miſtake me not, my Lord, ’tis not my meaning / To raze one Title of your Honour out. 1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii], page 32:
3. (intransitive, obsolete) To commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong.
   • Impoſe me to what penance your inuention / Can lay vpon my ſinne, yet ſinn’d I not / But in miſtaking. 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 119:
   • There is also a chancellor, — no, I mistake, — a chandler and green-grocer, with his hands full of warts; […] 1857, T[héodore] Robertson, “[Charles Saville: […]] Chapter XXV”, in Synthèse de la langue anglaise (Charles Saville) : Texte anglais avec la traduction française en regard [Synthesis of the English Language (Charles Saville): English Text with Opposite French Translation], 2nd edition, Paris: Librairie française et anglaise de [French and English bookshop of] J.-H. Truchy; Ch. Leroy, successeur [successor]; […], page 240:
   • 1720, Jonathan Swift, “Letter to a Young Clergyman” in The Works of Jonathan Swift, London: Charles Elliot, 1784, Volume 10, pp. 6-7, No gentleman thinks it is safe or prudent to send a servant with a message, without repeating it more than once, and endeavouring to put it into terms brought down to the capacity of the bearer; yet, after all this care, it is frequent for servants to mistake, and sometimes occasion misunderstandings among friends […]
   • "Bah!" said the Englishwoman: "what knight ever feared cold? Besides, you mistake; the night is warm, and you look so handsome in your gown." 1828, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XVI, in Pelham; or, The Adventures of a Gentleman. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 127:
4. (obsolete, rare) To take or choose wrongly.
   • The Spear with erring Haste mistook its way, But plung’d in Eniopeus’ Bosom lay. 1716, Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintott, Volume 2, Book 8, lines 151-152, p. 252:
   • The better act of purposes mistook / Is to mistake again; though indirect, / Yet indirection thereby grows direct, c. 1596 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Iohn”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i], page 10:

Forms

Deriveds

mistaker · unmistakable · mistakeable · mistakability · mistake windmills for giants · mistakable · mistake fare

Descendants

mistake

Relateds

mistaken

Translations (124)

ur غلط سمجھنا (to take one thing for another) · ckb بەغەلەت (to take one thing for another) · lad yerrar (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ga déan earráid (to take one thing for another) · cmn 誤解 /误解 (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · eo malinterpreti (to take one thing for another) · cs zaměnit (to take one thing for another) · sv missförstå (to take one thing for another) · it prendere un granchio (to take one thing for another) · fr faire erreur (to take one thing for another) · hy շփոթել (to take one thing for another) · ast enquivocase (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ro greși (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ga déan dearmad (to take one thing for another) · ang dwolian (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · it prendere un abbaglio (to take one thing for another) · ru ошиби́ться (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · uk помиля́тися (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ckb غەلەت کردن (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ja 勘違いする (to take one thing for another) · sv förväxla (to take one thing for another) · es equivocarse (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ast confundir (to take one thing for another) · hi ग़लत समझना (to take one thing for another) · sv begå ett misstag (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · pt enganar-se (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ar أَسَاء اَلْفَهْم (to take one thing for another) · el κάνω λάθος (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · hu félreért (to take one thing for another) · cmn 弄錯 /弄错 (to take one thing for another) · ml തെറ്റുക (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · fr confondre (avec) (to take one thing for another) · uk помили́тися (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · de sich versehen (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ru обозна́ться (to take one thing for another) · nl een fout maken (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · vi nhầm lẫn (to take one thing for another) · ba бутау (to take one thing for another) · te పొరపడు (to take one thing for another) · ms salah faham (to take one thing for another) · hu téved (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · da misforstå (to take one thing for another) · es confundir con (to take one thing for another) · el σφάλλω (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · uk помилятися (to take one thing for another) · hi ग़लत करना (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · pl pomylić (to take one thing for another) · ar أَخْطَأَ (to take one thing for another) · it errare (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · fi ymmärtää väärin (to take one thing for another) · nl in de fout gaan (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · it prendere una cantonata (to take one thing for another) · la oberro (to take one thing for another) · la fallor (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · km ច្រឡំ (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · fr méprendre (to take one thing for another) · ga déan earráid (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · pl pomylić się (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · hu eltéveszt (to take one thing for another) · ur غلط کرنا (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · sv missta (to take one thing for another) · fr se tromper (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · hy սխալվել (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · pt equivocar-se (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · fi tehdä virhe (to take one thing for another) · ml തെറ്റുക (to take one thing for another) · sh pogrijéšiti (to take one thing for another) · no misforstå (to take one thing for another) · te పొరపడు (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · cmn 誤會 /误会 (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ru непра́вильно понима́ть (to take one thing for another) · ru ошиба́ться (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · pt errar (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · bg греша (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · es equivocar por (to take one thing for another) · te పొరబడు (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · la fallor (to take one thing for another) · it fraintendere (to take one thing for another) · nl verwisselen (to take one thing for another) · tr yanlış yapmak (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ga déan dearmad (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ast trabucar (to take one thing for another) · cmn 誤會 /误会 (to take one thing for another) · ba яңылышыу (to take one thing for another) · sh pogrijéšiti (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ko 오해하다 (to take one thing for another) · ru приня́ть (to take one thing for another) · ast trafulcar (to take one thing for another) · tr yanlış anlamak (to take one thing for another) · cy camgymryd (to take one thing for another) · id salah paham (to take one thing for another) · bg бъркам (to take one thing for another) · fi erehtyä (to take one thing for another) · it sbagliare (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · cmn 錯認 /错认 (to take one thing for another) · sw kosa (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · ko 실수하다 (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · io miskonocar (to take one thing for another) · ca confondre (to take one thing for another) · de fehlen (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · la fallo (to take one thing for another) · ast tracamundiar (to take one thing for another) · tr hata yapmak (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · nl misverstaan (to take one thing for another) · pt confundir (to take one thing for another) · de verwechseln (to take one thing for another) · fi tehdä virhe (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · it toppare (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · te పొరబడు (to take one thing for another) · sv missta (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · it confondere (to take one thing for another) · km ច្រឡំ (to take one thing for another) · tr hata etmek (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · no ta feil (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · la erro (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · hy խառնել (to take one thing for another) · hu összetéveszt (to take one thing for another) · oc confondre (to take one thing for another) · ru принима́ть (to take one thing for another) · bg заблуждавам се (to take one thing for another) · ja 誤解する (to take one thing for another) · ro confunda (to take one thing for another) · fi erehtyä (''(obsolete in English)'' to commit an unintentional error; to do or think something wrong) · fi käsittää väärin (to take one thing for another)