Main Entry: ¹mis·take

Pronunciation: \mə-ˈstāk\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): mis·took \-ˈstu̇k\; mis·tak·en \-ˈstā-kən\; mis·tak·ing

Etymology: Middle English

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to blunder in the choice of <mistook her way in the dark>
2 a : to misunderstand the meaning or intention of : misinterpret <don't mistake me, I mean exactly what I said> b : to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of
3 : to identify wrongly : confuse with another <I mistook him for his brother>intransitive verb : to be wrong <you mistook when you thought I laughed at you — Thomas Hardy>

— mis·tak·en·ly adverb

— mis·tak·er noun