Misorient

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To confuse an individual regarding their proper position or direction in both physical and abstract contexts
2. To lead someone into a state of uncertainty about location or relevance in various situations
3. To cause someone to lose a sense of their correct spatial location or direction

Etymology: "Misorient" is formed from the prefix "mis-", meaning wrongly or badly, attached to "orient," the verb meaning to position someone or something relative to the points of the compass, or to find one's bearings. The verb "orient" itself traces back to the Latin "oriens," the rising sun, because early maps and churches were aligned toward the east, where the sun rises. Put together, "misorient" means to lose or confuse one's sense of direction, to place something facing the wrong way, or to leave someone unsure where they stand. Its meaning follows the literal sense of "orient" closely: a traveler who has misoriented has lost track of which way is east, north, or home.

Synonyms: mislead, disorient

Antonyms: orient, guide