misconceive

[mis-kuh n-seev]

See more synonyms for misconceive on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object), mis·con·ceived, mis·con·ceiv·ing.

to conceive or interpret wrongly; misunderstand.

Origin of misconceive

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at mis-¹, conceive

Related formsmis·con·ceiv·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for misconceive

misread, misinterpret, miscalculate, confuse, confound, misjudge, misconstrue, misapply, fail, miss, misapprehend, mistake, misreckon, misknow

Examples from the Web for misconceive

Historical Examples of misconceive

I must tell you that you misconceive the situation entirely.
The Market-Place
Harold Frederic
You cannot misconceive my motives in making this not very agreeable communication.
The Young Duke
Benjamin Disraeli
I say not this openly, nor unto such as should be likely to misconceive me.
In Convent Walls
Emily Sarah Holt
Of course we must not misconceive the character of this wrath.
The Expositor's Bible: The Epistles to the Thessalonians
James Denney
It was impossible to misconceive the threat or to exaggerate the danger.
Tales and Fantasies
Robert Louis Stevenson

British Dictionary definitions for misconceive

misconceive

verb

to have the wrong idea; fail to understand

Derived Formsmisconceiver, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for misconceive

late 14c., "to have a wrong notion of;" see mis- (1) + conceive. Related: Misconceived; misconceiving.