misread
UK: ˌmɪsˈriːd | US: ˌmɪsˈriːd
vt. to read or interpret incorrectly
vt. to misunderstand the meaning of something written or spoken
The word "misread" combines the prefix "mis-" (from Old English "mis-," meaning "wrongly" or "badly") with the verb "read" (from Old English "rǣdan," meaning "to advise, interpret, or decipher text"). The prefix "mis-" is commonly used in English to indicate error or negation (e.g., "mistake," "misunderstand"). The fusion of these morphemes logically creates a verb meaning "to read incorrectly," reflecting a straightforward compounding pattern in English.
She misread the instructions and added salt instead of sugar.
Historians sometimes misread ancient texts due to unclear handwriting.
Don’t misread my silence as agreement—I just haven’t decided yet.
The student misread the exam question and lost points.
His nervous smile was misread as dishonesty by the interviewer.