misunderstanding
/ˌmɪs.ʌn.dəˈstæn.dɪŋ/
noun
Origin
English
mis- + understand + -ing — the action or state of interpreting wrongly
Overview
Meaning Now
- A failure to understand something correctly; an interpretation of an action or statement that is not what was intended.
- A minor disagreement or quarrel.
Language path
Proto-Germanic → Old English → Middle English → English
Earliest form
misunderstonding
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
The prefix 'mis-' has been used in Germanic languages since the early medieval period to denote an action performed incorrectly or with a negative outcome. The word represents the evolution of 'understand' from a cognitive perception to a social negotiation of meaning.
Evolution
- Old English
mis- + understandan
“to fail to perceive or comprehend correctly”
Prefix mis- added to the verb understandan.
- Middle English
misunderstonding
“a faulty interpretation”
Transition from verbal phrase to noun form using gerundial suffix.
- Early Modern English
misunderstanding
“a disagreement or failure of comprehension”
Connections
Word parts
mis-
prefix
wrongly or badly
understand
root
to grasp meaning
-ing
suffix
forming a noun of action
Related across languages
Dutch
misverstand
misunderstanding
German
Missverständnis
misunderstanding
Explore next
Related to misunderstanding
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.