misgive

American

[mis-giv] / mɪsˈgɪv /

verb (used with object)

misgave, misgiven, misgiving

(of one's mind, heart, etc.) to give doubt or apprehension to.

verb (used without object)

misgave, misgiven, misgiving

to be apprehensive.

misgive British

/ mɪsˈɡɪv /

verb

to make or be apprehensive or suspicious

"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

Etymology

Origin of misgive

First recorded in 1505–15; mis- ¹ + give

Vocabulary lists containing misgive

"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 1

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My heart misgive me—I would't a done it.

From The Old Homestead by Stephens, Ann S. (Ann Sophia)

Why does my heart misgive? & scalding tears, That should but mourn, now prophecy her loss?

From Proserpine and Midas by Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft

Did you mean to put me to a last test?—or did your hard little heart misgive you at the last moment?

From The Marriage of William Ashe by Ward, Humphry, Mrs.

As my time drew nearer, and there got to be talk of my having a new coat for the ceremony, my mind began to misgive me.

From The Moonstone by Collins, Wilkie

The look on Bimal's face made my mind misgive me.

From The Home and the World by Tagore, Rabindranath

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023