amiss

[uh-mis]

adverb

1. out of the right or proper course, order, or condition; improperly; wrongly; astray.

   Did I speak amiss?

   Synonyms: unsuitably, inappropriately
   Antonyms: properly, rightly

adjective

1. improper; wrong; faulty.

   I think something is amiss in your calculations.

   Synonyms: askew, awry, erroneous, mistaken
   Antonyms: true, correct

amiss

/ əˈmɪs /

adverb

1. in an incorrect, inappropriate, or defective manner

2. to be annoyed or offended by something

adjective

1. (postpositive) wrong, incorrect, or faulty

Word History and Origins

Origin of amiss¹

1200–50; Middle English amis, equivalent to a- a- ¹ + mis wrong. See miss ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of amiss¹

C13 a mis, from mis wrong; see _miss ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take amiss, to be offended at or resentful of (something not meant to cause offense or resentment); misunderstand.

   I couldn't think of a way to present my view so that no one would take it amiss.

see under take the wrong way.

Example Sentences

Was Miss Mortimer trying to tell her that something was amiss?

Read more on Literature

“Very sorry, my lord. Not sure what went amiss with the hounds today. I promise it won’t happen again.”

Read more on Literature

Huddled around their tables, locals poured into The Barking Dog each week to take on a pub quiz - but one thing was amiss.

Read more on BBC

On this, the last day of his life, Seymour says goodbye to Sybil, who suspects nothing is amiss.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wren Chambers was on the train that stopped at Huntingdon and first became aware that something was amiss when a man bolted down the carriage with a bloody arm, saying "they've got a knife, run".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• awry 
• improper 
• untoward