misperceive
UK: ˌmɪspəˈsiːv | US: ˌmɪspərˈsiːv
vt. to perceive incorrectly or misunderstand
vt. to interpret something in a mistaken way
The word "misperceive" combines the prefix "mis-" (from Old English "mis-," meaning "wrongly" or "badly") with the verb "perceive" (from Latin "percipere," meaning "to seize or understand"). The prefix "mis-" negates or reverses the action of the root, turning "perceive" (to correctly understand) into "misperceive" (to misunderstand). This follows a common pattern in English where "mis-" alters the meaning of verbs to indicate error or failure (e.g., "mislead," "misinterpret").
Many people misperceive his confidence as arrogance.
The optical illusion caused her to misperceive the shape of the object.
Cultural differences can lead people to misperceive each other's intentions.
The witness misperceived the suspect's height due to poor lighting.
Don't misperceive my silence as agreement—I just haven't decided yet.