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.

Upon this they all listened; and Gan felt his heart misgive him.

From Stories from the Italian Poets: with Lives of the Writers, Volume 1 by Dante Alighieri

I am but a blind thing, Dame Maude; yet this match of the Lady Custance doth sorely misgive me.”

From The White Rose of Langley A Story of the Olden Time by Holt, Emily Sarah

I thought it mighty curus, and my mind misgive me thar was somethin' crooked; but I always pintedly dodges; 'lie-lows to ketch meddlers,' and I went on my way.

From At the Mercy of Tiberius by Evans, Augusta J. (Augusta Jane)

My mind always seems to misgive me when I think of him; and I have so strong a foreboding that he has received my last blessing, that I cannot overcome it.

From Edwy the Fair or the First Chronicle of Aescendune by Crake, A. D. (Augustine David)

He searched the air like Nisus the forest in his quest of Euryalus, and his mind began to misgive him.

From Georges Guynemer Knight of the Air by Sill, Louise Morgan

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