amiss
UK: əˈmɪs | US: əˈmɪs
adj. wrong or inappropriate in a given situation
adv. in an incorrect or imperfect manner
The word "amiss" originates from Old English on miss, where on means "in/on" and miss derives from Proto-Germanic missa- (wrong, badly). Over time, the phrase condensed into "amiss," retaining the sense of something being "off" or "incorrect." The root miss persists in modern English (e.g., "misstep," "mistake"), reinforcing the idea of error or failure.
Something felt amiss when she entered the silent house.
His remarks struck everyone as amiss during the formal ceremony.
If the engine sounds amiss, stop driving immediately.
She knew her calculations were amiss but couldn’t pinpoint the error.
The teacher sensed amiss in the student’s hurried explanation.