misgive

verb

mis·​give ˌmis-ˈgiv 

misgave ˌmis-ˈgāv  ; misgiven ˌmis-ˈgi-vən  ; misgiving

transitive verb

: to suggest doubt or fear to

… when they heard the name their minds misgave them. Maria … relieved their apprehension.

—Robertson Davies

intransitive verb

: to be fearful or apprehensive

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for misgive

• argive
• forgive
• ogive
• outlive
• relive
• corroborative
• determinative
• germinative
• transformative
• give
• sieve
• resistive

Kids Definition

misgive

verb

mis·​give (ˈ)mis-ˈgiv 

misgave -ˈgāv  ; misgiven -ˈgiv-ən  ; misgiving

: to suggest doubt or fear to