misplaced
UK: ˌmɪsˈpleɪst | US: ˌmɪsˈpleɪst
adj. 1. Incorrectly positioned or assigned.
adj. 2. Emotionally inappropriate or untimely (e.g., a misplaced joke).
vt. 3. Past tense of "misplace" – to put something in the wrong location.
The word combines "mis-" (Old English mis-, meaning "wrongly" or "badly") with "place" (from Latin platea, "broad street," later "location"). The suffix "-ed" marks the past participle. Originally literal (physically misplaced objects), it later expanded to abstract contexts (e.g., emotions). The logic reflects a straightforward compounding of "wrong" + "position" + action completion.
She realized her keys were misplaced after searching her entire bag.
His misplaced confidence led to an embarrassing failure.
The librarian found a misplaced book in the wrong section.
Laughing at the funeral was a misplaced reaction.
The team misplaced their trust in an unreliable partner.