Misdisplay

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. One can show information incorrectly on a screen or chart ; the result is a wrong or faulty presentation of that information
2. Someone who shows figures inaccurately on a monitor has done it wrongly ; that inaccurate showing itself is an erroneous screen output
3. A device or program may show content incorrectly on its screen ; such an incorrect showing of visual information is a flawed presentation

Etymology: The verb "misdisplay" is simply a compound of the prefix "mis-", meaning wrongly or badly, and "display." Its pattern is the same as countless other English words built this way, such as "misplace" or "misjudge," where "mis-" attaches to an existing verb to mean that the action was carried out incorrectly. To misdisplay something is therefore to show it in the wrong way, whether that means a screen rendering colours inaccurately or information appearing in the wrong place. The prefix itself is old. It comes from Old English, where it signalled error or wrongness, and it has been productive ever since, so new combinations like this one can be formed whenever a need arises. "Display" entered English from Old French "despleier," which traces back to Latin "displicare," meaning to scatter or unfold, so the base word carries a sense of spreading out or opening up to view that the compound inherits.