Misprise

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A failure to appreciate the worth or importance of something ; a mistake or misunderstanding about a fact or situation
2. An undervaluation or lack of recognition of true value ; an incorrect judgment or incorrect interpretation
3. Neglecting to duly value or comprehend something ; an error arising from misunderstanding or misjudgment

Etymology: "Misprise" is a verb meaning to fail to appreciate, or to undervalue something. Its roots lie in Old French, where "mespriser" combined the prefix "mes-", meaning "wrongly" or "amiss", with "priser", "to prize" or "to value." The pairing is almost literal: to misprize is to put the wrong value on something. The English spelling "misprize" is the older form, and "misprise" is an alternative spelling of the same verb. Both descend from the Middle French verb "mespriser," which also gave rise to a noun, "mespris," used for an error or a mistake. English took the word over during the medieval period, when French was the language of courts and the educated classes.

Synonyms: misunderstand, misinterpret, mistake, misjudge, misread

Antonyms: understand, comprehend, interpret, grasp, apprehend