Misdeeding

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An action or deed that is considered to be wrong or immoral; the act of committing an offense against accepted standards; a wrongdoing that reflects negatively on an individual or group
2. A behavior that deviates from what is deemed acceptable and virtuous; an act that carries blame or censure due to its erroneous nature; a transgression that may result in social or legal repercussions
3. An occurrence of poor judgment or unethical conduct that warrants criticism; a misstep that violates ethical principles or laws; an act of misconduct that can tarnish reputations or relationships

Etymology: A misdeed is, literally, a thing done amiss. "Deed" comes from Old English "dæd," which shares its root with "do," so every deed is simply something done, and the "mis-" prefix, from Old English, adds the sense of "wrongly" or "badly." Together they formed "misdeed" in Middle English, and the word has kept its plain, almost physical sense of an act gone wrong. "Misdeeding" is much rarer. It is most likely a verbal noun, built by adding the "-ing" suffix to a verb "to misdeed" (to do wrong), and it appears mainly in older or formal writing. Speakers usually reach for "misdeed" or "misconduct" instead, so the form is best understood as a grammatical variant of a noun that is already in common use.

Synonyms: wrongdoing, offense, misconduct

Antonyms: good deed, virtue