mis-ˈspeech
[mis-1 4.]
† a. Evil speaking. Obs. b. Incorrect speaking.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 1523 Þan meliors mekly hire maydenes dede calle, & many of hire meyne for drede of misse⁓speche. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 178 And otherwise of no mispeche, Mi conscience forto seche, I can noght of Envie finde That I mispoke have oght behinde Wherof love owghte be mispaid. a 1461 Songs & Carols 15th C. (Warton Club) 1 Rewle thi tunge in swych a gys, That non mysspeche come the froo. 1496 Dives & Pauper (W. de W.) ii. i. 109/2 Goddes name is taken in vayne..by myslyuynge, by myspeche, & by mysherynge. 1895 Atlantic Monthly Mar. 432 Another form of misspeech, to which most of us are..subject,—the exchange of syllables. |