▪ I. mistrust, n.
(mɪsˈtrʌst)
[mis-1 7. Cf. the later distrust n.]
Lack of trust or confidence; suspicion, distrust. Const. of, in, † to. † Also, doubt as to the truth or probability (of something).
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus ii. 780 For ever som mistrust, or nyce stryf, Ther is in love, som cloud is over the sonne. 1440 Generydes 5760 ‘To you’, quod she, ‘now haue I noo mystrost’. 1488 Caxton Chast. Goddes Chyldern 35 No man shall haue mystrust of foryeuenesse of whatsomeuer synne man hathe done. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon lxxxi. 247, I had no mystruste in him. 1601 Shakes. Jul. C. v. iii. 66 Mistrust of good successe hath done this deed. 1677 Marvell Corr. Wks. 1872–5 II. 552, I have sent for you hither to prevent mistakes and mistrusts. a 1699 Stillingfl. Serm. xlii. Wks. 1710 V. 640 The mistrust Men have of themselves would make their Fears over-balance their Hopes. 1805 Wordsw. Prelude x. 161 Man is only weak through his mistrust And want of hope. 1854 Milman Lat. Chr. viii. ii. III. 29 These decrees were sent to the Pope, with a significant menace, which implied great mistrust in his firmness. |
▪ II. mistrust, v.
(mɪsˈtrʌst)
Also 4–6 -trost(e.
[f. mis-1 7 + trust v., prob. after OF. mesfier (mod. F. méfier): see mis-2.]
1. a. trans. Not to trust, to have no confidence in (a person); to suspect the actions, intentions, motives (etc.) of.
| c 1374 Chaucer Troylus iv. 1606, I see wel now that ye mistrusten me; For by your wordes it is wel y-sene. c 1440 Generydes 5695 Me to mystroste trewly she is vnkynd,..Vntrew to hir she shall me neuer fynde. a 1548 Hall Chron., Edw. V, 21 b, For whom mistrusted he that mistrusted his awne brother? 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 141, I will neuer mistrust my wife againe, till thou art able to woo her in good English. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 207 Had it been a Spanish ship, they would not have mistrusted him. 1861 Thackeray Four Georges iii. (1862) 151 She kept her household lonely and in gloom, mistrusting almost all people who came about her children. 1886 G. Allen Darwin vii. 113 The practical English nation mistrusts philosophers. |
b. refl. To be doubtful as to one's own powers or capabilities.
| 1552 Latimer Serm. (1584) 299 Mistrusting himselfe and hys owne doynges, and trusting in the merites of Christ. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 1212/1 They mistrusted themselues,..their minds being suddenlie altered, they returned. 1875 Manning Mission H. Ghost viii. 217 Our need to watch over ourselves and to mistrust ourselves, and to trust in God alone. |
2. To entertain suspicions with regard to, have doubts about (a thing); to doubt the truth, validity, or genuineness of.
| c 1375 xi. Pains of Hell 232 in O.E. Misc. 218 To god hit is most hye trespace To mys-trost his mercy and grace. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 167 b, Mystrust not the goodnes of god. 1529 More Dyaloge i. Wks. 123/2 The messenger thynketh that he may well mistrust & deny the myracles. 1602 Marston Ant. & Mel. v. sign. I, When I see one..wallowe in a greate sloppe, I mistrust the proportion of his thigh. 1615 Bacon Sp. Undertakers Wks. 1826 VI. 20 As gamesters use to call for new cards, when they mistrust a pack. 1742 Lond. & Country Brew. i. (ed. 4) 15 Such Waters ought to be mistrusted more than any, where they are not pure, clear, and soft. 1759 Goldsm. Bee No. 4 ¶10 For my part I am ever ready to mistrust a promising title. 1848 Lytton Harold v. v. 178 Mistrust the wisdom that sees only the things of the day-light. 1871 C. M. Yonge Cameos Ser. ii. xiv. 152 Juan mistrusted this advice. |
3. a. To suspect the existence of or anticipate the occurrence of (something evil). ? Obs.
| 1535 Coverdale Judges viii. 11 The hoost was carelesse, and mystrusted nothinge. 1590 Nashe Pasquil's Apol. i. B j b, No such largesse could be looked for at the hands of her Ma[iestie]..no fingring of Spanish coyne mought be mistrusted. 1598 Barret Theor. Warres i. i. 2 To shake off securitie, to mistrust the worst. 1603 Florio Montaigne i. vi, They were all asleepe mistrusting no harme. 1674 Prideaux Lett. (Camden) 18 It is feared..that he will speedyly be mad, if he is not soe already, which his actions doe make every on mistrust. 1728 Morgan Algiers II. iii. 238 The poor Prince,..mistrusting no Treachery was easily surprised. |
b. with obj. a clause: To suspect that something has happened or will happen. ? Now dial. and U.S. † Also pass. (corresponding to acc. and inf. in the active): To be suspected (of doing something).
| a 1450 Knt. de La Tour 35 The brother tolde her husbonde, the whiche alle his lyff after mistrusted that his wiff had done amys. 1554–5 Eden Decades (Arb.) 386 Not mystrustynge that that shulde haue hyndered theyr bargenynge. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus, Suspectus in aliqua virgine, Mistrusted to be ouer familiar with a mayden. 1621 Lady M. Wroth Urania 475 Shee mistrusted I loued a brother of hers. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. i. xi. 46 Wisely mistrusting that reasonable spirits would never firmely be lost in the adorement of things inanimate,..he [Satan] begat an opinion that they..were living creatures. 1777 Boston Gaz. 10 Nov. 3/3 He said he was taking his Way to Boston, but is mistrusted to be going to Long or Rhode Island. 1840 C. F. Hoffman Greyslaer i. x. 109, I mistrust that your Injun friend there..didn't help you much..in finding out old Josie. 1861 O. W. Holmes Elsie Venner vii. 73, I mistrusted he didn't mean to come. 1867 Harper's Mag. July 147/1 They have left the Atlantic coast, given up by physicians as in the last stage of consumption—a fact that would never be mistrusted from their present robust condition. 1898 A. Nicholas Idyl of Wabash 188 Before early apples were ripe I mistrusted what was keeping him. 1904 T. Roosevelt in J. A. Riis Life viii. 187, I mistrust that it scared the Spaniard almost as much as our charge did. 1909 Dialect Notes III. 349, I mistrusted he was at the bottom of it. Not common. |
| absol. 1615 E. S. Britain's Buss E 4 Except the Dutch should proove more froward and fond then I can yet mistrust. |
† c. To have an inkling of (what is the matter).
| 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 204 Mistrusting what it ail'd, I took the Pot out of the Water. |
4. intr. To be distrustful, suspicious, or without confidence. Also, † not to trust in, to be doubtful of.
| 138. Wyclif Ps. Prol. 737 To mystrosten of forȝiuenesse, and of the merci of God. 1382 ― Bar. i. 17 Wee han not leeued, mystrostende in to hym. 1570 Levins Manip. 194/32 To Mistruste, diffidere. 1711 Prior Henry & Emma 352 Near thee, mistrust not, constant I'll abide. 1725 Pope Odyss. ii. 116 At once the gen'rous train complies, Nor fraud mistrusts in virtue's fair disguise. 1896 Godey's Mag. Apr. 391/2 Until I noticed..your confusion over your name, I never mistrusted. |
Hence misˈtrusted ppl. a., in quot. † suspected.
| 1588 Greene Pandosto (1843) 10 Hoping now he should be fully revenged of such mistrusted injuries. |