miscarryv.
/(ˌ)mɪsˈkari/, U.S. /ˈˌmɪsˈˌkɛri/ a. intransitive. To come to harm, suffer misfortune, perish; (of a person) to meet with death; (of an inanimate object) to be lost or destroyed. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (intransitive)]
forsweltc888
sweltc888
adeadeOE
deadc950
wendeOE
i-wite971
starveOE
witea1000
forfereOE
forthfareOE
forworthc1000
to go (also depart , pass, i-wite, chare) out of this worldOE
queleOE
fallOE
to take (also nim, underfo) (the) deathOE
to shed (one's own) blood?a1100
diec1135
endc1175
farec1175
to give up the ghostc1175
letc1200
aswelta1250
leavea1250
to-sweltc1275
to-worthc1275
to yield (up) the ghost (soul, breath, life, spirit)c1290
finea1300
spilla1300
part?1316
to leese one's life-daysa1325
to nim the way of deathc1325
to tine, leave, lose the sweatc1330
flit1340
trance1340
determinec1374
disperisha1382
to go the way of all the eartha1382
to be gathered to one's fathers1382
miscarryc1387
shut1390
goa1393
to die upa1400
expirea1400
fleea1400
to pass awaya1400
to seek out of lifea1400–50
to sye hethena1400
tinea1400
trespass14..
espirec1430
to end one's days?a1439
decease1439
to go away?a1450
ungoc1450
unlivec1450
to change one's lifea1470
vade1495
depart1501
to pay one's debt to (also the debt of) naturea1513
to decease this world1515
to go over?1520
jet1530
vade1530
to go westa1532
to pick over the perch1532
galpa1535
to die the death1535
to depart to God1548
to go home1561
mort1568
inlaikc1575
shuffle1576
finish1578
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
relent1587
unbreathe1589
transpass1592
to lose one's breath1596
to make a die (of it)1611
to go offa1616
fail1623
to go out1635
to peak over the percha1641
exita1652
drop1654
to knock offa1657
to kick upa1658
to pay nature her due1657
ghost1666
to march off1693
to die off1697
pike1697
to drop off1699
tip (over) the perch1699
to pass (also go, be called, etc.) to one's reward1703
sink1718
vent1718
to launch into eternity1719
to join the majority1721
demise1727
to pack off1735
to slip one's cable1751
turf1763
to move off1764
to pop off the hooks1764
to hop off1797
to pass on1805
to go to glory1814
sough1816
to hand in one's accounts1817
to slip one's breatha1819
croak1819
to slip one's wind1819
stiffen1820
weed1824
buy1825
to drop short1826
to fall (a) prey (also victim, sacrifice) to1839
to get one's (also the) call1839
to drop (etc.) off the hooks1840
to unreeve one's lifeline1840
to step out1844
to cash, pass or send in one's checks1845
to hand in one's checks1845
to go off the handle1848
to go under1848
succumb1849
to turn one's toes up1851
to peg out1852
walk1858
snuff1864
to go or be up the flume1865
to pass outc1867
to cash in one's chips1870
to go (also pass over) to the majority1883
to cash in1884
to cop it1884
snuff1885
to belly up1886
perch1886
to kick the bucket1889
off1890
to knock over1892
to pass over1897
to stop one1901
to pass in1904
to hand in one's marble1911
the silver cord is loosed1911
pip1913
to cross over1915
conk1917
to check out1921
to kick off1921
to pack up1925
to step off1926
to take the ferry1928
peg1931
to meet one's Maker1933
to kiss off1935
to crease it1959
zonk1968
cark1977
to cark it1979
to take a dirt nap1981
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > come to grief
misfareOE
miswendOE
misferec1275
misspeeda1387
miscarryc1387
mischieve?a1400
to catch copper1530
to lose one's seatc1540
mischief1598
to bu(r)st one's boiler1824
to come to grief1850
to come (also go) a mucker1851
to come (fall, get) a cropper1858
mucker1862
to go or be up the flume1865
to come undone1899
to play smash1903
to come to a sticky end1904
to come unstuck1911
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > destroy [verb (intransitive)] > be destroyed, ruined, or come to an end
losec888
fallOE
forlesea1225
perishc1275
spilla1300
to go to wreche13..
to go to the gatec1330
to go to lostc1374
miscarryc1387
quenchc1390
to bring unto, to fall into, to go, put, or work to wrakea1400
mischieve?a1400
tinea1400
to go to the devilc1405
bursta1450
untwindc1460
to make shipwreck1526
to go to (the) pot1531
to go to wreck (and ruin)a1547
wrake1570
wracka1586
to hop (also tip, pitch over, drop off, etc.) the perch1587
to lie in the dusta1591
mischief1598
to go (etc.) to rack (and ruin)1599
shipwreck1607
suffera1616
unravel1643
to fall off1684
tip (over) the perch1699
to do away with1769
to go to the dickens1833
collapse1838
to come (also go) a mucker1851
mucker1862
to go up1864
to go to squash1889
to go (to) stramash1910
to go for a burton1941
to meet one's Makera1978
c1387–95 G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. 513 He..dwelte at hoom and kepte wel his folde, So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarye.
1444 Rolls of Parl. V. 114/1 None other thyng entre in no wise into the Vessels..yat myght cause yat Wyne..to reboille or myscare.
1447 O. Bokenham Lives of Saints (Arun.) (1938) 4910 Þat noon hous where were hyr passyonarye Wyth feer ner lyhtnyng shuld neuyr myskarye.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xxxvi. 23 Bot weriand til him sall myskary [L. maledicentes autem ei disperibunt].
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Dvv Nat one of them all miscaryed: but were all safe and sounde.
c1550 R. Bieston Bayte Fortune sig. B iv But yet he must regarde, for drede his welth miscary.
1577 R. Stanyhurst Hist. Irelande iii. 91/1 in R. Holinshed Chron. I In this conflicte, Patricke Fitz Simons, wyth dyuers other good housholders miscaried.
1601 R. Johnson tr. G. Botero Trauellers Breuiat 55 The great ships bringing corne from Siria and Egypt..doe seldome miscarrie.
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 186 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) [He] shortly after miscarried at Athlone, by the fall of a Turret.
1668 W. Temple Let. to Charles II in Wks. (1731) II. 58 If we had miscarried, your Majesty had lost an honest diligent Captain and sixteen poor Seamen.
1737 S. Berington Mem. G. di Lucca 133 He left the Government..of all to his eldest Son, in case he should miscarry.
1749 R. James Diss. Fevers (ed. 2) 3 Many Patients miscarry even under this Treatment, perhaps more than recover.
b. transitive. To cause to perish or suffer harm or misfortune. Usually in passive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [verb (passive)]
miscarryc1440
to bring to, on, or upon (one's) bierc1480
snatch1597
remove1832
take1920
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure 1778 Sir Cador of Cornewayle es carefull in herte, Because of his kynyse-mane þat þus es myscaryede.
1485 Malory's Morte Darthur (Caxton) xii. iv. sig. M.iij I am sore ashamed that I haue ben thus myscaryed [a1470 Winch. Coll. have be myssefortuned], for I am bannysshed oute of the Countrey of Logrys for euer.
1532 (c1385) Usk's Test. Loue in Wks. G. Chaucer ii. f. cccxxxixv I had routhe to sene the myscaried.
1565 Act 8 Eliz. c. 13 §1 Divers Shyppes..have by the lacke of suche Markes of late yeres ben myscaried peryshed and lost in the Sea.
1608 W. Shakespeare King Lear xxii. 5 Our sisters man is certainly miscaried . View more context for this quotation
1655 Ld. Orrery Parthenissa IV. ii. viii. 743 Learning that his first Embassadors..were miscarried, he employ'd others.
a1706 J. Evelyn Mem. for my Grand-son (1926) 3 So many of my deare Children have ben taken away & miscaryed.
2. intransitive. To go wrong or astray; to do wrong, misbehave. Also reflexive. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > erring > [verb (intransitive)]
misfareeOE
failc1290
stumblec1325
errc1374
crookc1380
miscarryc1390
swervea1400
delire?a1475
pervertc1475
misguide1480
prevaricate1582
society > morality > moral evil > wrong conduct > act wrongly or immorally [verb (intransitive)] > err or go wrong or astray
misfareeOE
wanderc897
dwelec900
miswendOE
misfereOE
misnimc1225
failc1290
to go willa1300
misgoc1300
misstepc1300
errc1315
strayc1325
folly1357
wryc1369
crookc1380
miscarryc1390
ravec1390
astray1393
forloinc1400
delire?a1475
to go wrong?1507
to tread the shoe awrya1542
swerve1576
prevaricate1582
tread awrya1625
c1390 (c1300) MS Vernon Homilies in Archiv f. das Studium der Neueren Sprachen (1877) 57 272 (MED) I preye þe, lord, þou help hem alle..And let hem neuere miskari.
a1400 (c1300) Northern Homily: St. John & Boy (Coll. Phys.) in Middle Eng. Dict. at Miscarien Lat thou noht this child miscarye.
c1400 Comm. on Canticles (Bodl. 288) in T. Arnold Sel. Eng. Wks. J. Wyclif (1871) III. 38 Þouȝ þat it myskarie whanne it comeþ to age, þe childheed þei moun save.
1568 ( D. Lindsay Satyre (Bannatyne) l. 57 in Wks. (1931) II. 14 Maister, quhairto sowld I my self miskary Quhair I, as preistis, may swyve & nevir mary?
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. viii. 348 [They] may not marry, and yet may mis-carry themselues in all abhominations.
1649 F. Roberts Clavis Bibliorum (ed. 2) 368 Solomon more miscarrying in that [sc. prosperity] then Job in this [sc. adversity].
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. ii. xx. 127 Crates..having had a Son miscarry at London, by the conversation of a Minute Philosopher.
a1910 ‘M. Twain’ Autobiography (1925) II. 156 My defects had a large chance for display... As soon as the guests were out of the house, I saw that I had been miscarrying again.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > deceit, deception, trickery > deception by illusion, delusion > deceive, delude [verb (transitive)]
bedidderc1000
bipechec1000
swikeOE
fodea1375
flatter1377
to make believea1393
illude1447
miscarrya1450
to fode forth (also occasionally forward, off, on, out)1479
delude1493
sophisticate1597
sile1608
prestigiate1647
will-o'-the-wisp1660
bilk1672
foxa1716
fickle1736
moonshine1824
a1450 Castle Perseverance (1969) l. 2347 Whoso wyl schryuyn hym of hys synnys all, He puttyth þis brethel to mykyl myschefe, Mankynde he þat myskaryed.
a1522 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid (1957) ii. xi. 107 Than wod for wo, so was I quyte miscareit, That noder god nor man I left wnwareit [L. Quem non incusavi amens hominumque deorumque?].
1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) i. 75 It maid na mis quhat madinnis þai miscareit.
1580 A. Fleming in Baret's Aluearie (rev. ed.) sig. Aaaa.i Manie words of like spelling, and..different in signification, may miscarrie young beginners.
a1599 E. Spenser View State Ireland 24 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The Iudge, who are men and may bee miscaried by affections, and many other meanes.
1611 J. Speed Hist. Great Brit. ix. vii. 476/1 Impotent passions carrying him, and miscarrying him.
1633 Bp. J. Hall Plaine Explic. Hard Texts i. 121 He was not miscarried into any..enormous crime.
1650 J. Trapp Clavis to Bible (Num. xx. 11) 40 The best may be mis-carried by their passions.
?a1700 Bonny Lizie Baillie xi, in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1892) IV. viii. 267 O bonny Duncan Grahame, Why should ye me miscarry?
4. † a. transitive. To induce (a woman) to have a miscarriage. Obsolete. rare.
ΚΠ
1527 L. Andrewe tr. H. Brunschwig Vertuose Boke Distyllacyon sig. Ciijv Women whiche be myscaryd of the mydwyfe in the byrthe of her chylde.
b. intransitive. Of a pregnant woman or animal: to have a miscarriage; to give birth to a fetus before it is viable. Also with †of, and figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > disorders of pregnancy or birth > have or cause pregnancy or birth disorder [verb (intransitive)] > miscarry
abort1540
miscarry1560
to slip (cast) the calf1664
to slip her filly1665
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. cxiijv She had dyuerse tymes miscaried of chylde.
1643 Sir T. Browne Religio Medici (authorized ed.) i. §57. 130 Eve miscarried of mee before she conceiv'd of Cain. View more context for this quotation
1662 J. Graunt Nat. & Polit. Observ. Bills Mortality v. 37 The Question is, Whether Teeming-women died, or fled, or miscarried?
1712 A. Pope Corr. 5 Dec. (1956) I. 161 You have proved yourself more tender of another's embryos than the fondest mothers are of their own, for you have preserved every thing that I miscarried of.
1754 Philos. Trans. 1753 (Royal Soc.) 48 26 Being two months and a half with child, she was unaccountably seized with a loss of blood; upon which she miscarried.
1786 J. Hunter Treat. Venereal Dis. vi. ii. i. 296 The mother..miscarried of her third child at the end of five months.
1805 T. Moore To Lady H. viii And some lay-in of full-grown wit, While others of a pun miscarried.
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. IV. 238 The case of a lady..who had miscarried of a fetus under three months old.
1824 Lancet 2 Oct. 426/2 She had miscarried: the embryo was entire, the membranes not being ruptured..; and the fetus was not three months old.
a1847 R. Wilson Life Gen. Sir R. Wilson (1862) I. ii. 53 On hearing the intelligence my sister..miscarried of a child.
1910 Encycl. Brit. I. 68/1 The tendency to recurrence in persons who have previously miscarried is well known.
1982 Daily Tel. 29 June 14 One to one-and-a-half per cent of women having an amniocentesis will miscarry as a result.
1992 Times 12 Sept. 3/6 She said that loud noise could force 45 pregnant sows to miscarry.
c. intransitive. Of a fetus: to be born too prematurely to survive; to fail to survive to the stage of viability. rare before 20th cent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > source or principle of life > birth > be born [verb (intransitive)] > prematurely
miscarry1600
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. iv. 9 And the child I go with do miscarry.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. iv. 15 But I pray God the fruite of her wombe miscarry . View more context for this quotation
1722 D. Defoe Moll Flanders 213 I employ the best..Nurses that can be had; and have as few Children miscarry under their Hands, as there would, if they were all Nurs'd by Mothers.
1954 F. Sargeson in C. K. Stead N.Z. Short Stories (1966) 2nd Ser. 9 I supposed the child had miscarried.
1983 S. Fugard Revolutionary Woman (1984) ii. 80 My child miscarried. He was born before his time.
1992 Cambr. Encycl. Human Evol. (1994) vii. iv. 274/2 The monosomic fetuses that commonly miscarry are lacking a sex chromosome.
d. transitive. To give birth to (a fetus) prematurely, before it is viable.
ΚΠ
1872 Woodhull & Claflin's Weekly 2 Nov. 11/3 She miscarried the child and it was buried.
1979 Washington Post (Nexis) 16 Dec. a. 1 The small, slight peasant woman was barely 18 when she miscarried her first baby.
1992 Independent 11 Feb. 13/2 I agonised for days about whether to have an ‘amnio’—and therefore risk miscarrying a baby which was probably healthy.
5.
a. intransitive. Of a plan, business, etc.: to go wrong; to fail; to come to nothing, prove abortive.†Also transitive (in passive): to cause (an enterprise) to fail (obsolete).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of an action or plan
failc1394
misfare1489
fro1559
to shoot nipshot1568
miscarry1589
languefya1734
misfire1942
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xxiii. 226 Ye may see how a word spoken vndecently, not knowing the phrase or proprietie of a language, maketh a whole matter many times miscarrie.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) i. i. 266 What miscarries Shall be the Generals fault. View more context for this quotation
1639 T. Fuller Hist. Holy Warre ii. xlv. 105 When a great action miscarrieth, the blame must be laid on some.
1654 Marq. Ormonde in E. Nicholas Nicholas Papers (1892) II. 142 It is ordinary when a busines is miscaryed to blame the ways taken to effect it.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iv. vii. 105 If they find their Project hath miscarried, they return home.
1790 W. Bligh Narr. Mutiny on Bounty p. iii The manner in which this expedition miscarried, with the subsequent transactions and events, are here related.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. I. iv. 227 A similar proposition in the session of 1601 seems to have miscarried in the commons.
1893 J. Strong New Era 252 Motive miscarries if method is wrong.
1927 Passing Show Summer 23/3 Bristola was running no risk of their plan miscarrying.
1988 W. Thesiger Life of my Choice (BNC) 104 Ras Hailu planned to free him and to raise the north in his name. The plot, however, miscarried.
b. intransitive. Of a person: to fail in one's purpose or object; to be unsuccessful. †Also with of.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > failure or lack of success > fail or be unsuccessful [verb (intransitive)] > specifically of persons
miscarry1602
to come off bluely1654
to buy the rabbit1807
flunk1823
to go wrong1827
slip1890
to fall (also go) by the wayside1898
crack1918
to go down the tube(s)1963
1602 W. Basse Sword & Buckler xiv. sig. B2v Oftentimes the master might miscarrie, Vnlesse he be attended and well mand With seruing resolutes.
1612 T. Taylor Αρχὴν Ἁπάντων: Comm. Epist. Paul to Titus ii. 12 Many men are crossed and miscarrie in their outward estate, because they are vngodly persons.
1642 T. Fuller Holy State iv. iii. 252 Here Wolsey miscarried in the Masterpiece of his policy.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 35. ¶1 Among all kinds of Writing, there is none in which Authors are more apt to miscarry than in Works of Humour.
1782 W. Cowper Conversation in Poems 231 We dare not risque them [sc. our talents] into public view, Lest they miscarry of what seems their due.
1815 W. H. Ireland Scribbleomania 261 Good luck; without which..it is odds but he miscarries in his suit.
1832 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. (1837) II. 259 He has..pitiably miscarried of his object.
1841 R. W. Emerson Ess. 1st Ser. (Boston ed.) ii. 62 If our young men miscarry in their first enterprizes, they lose all heart.
1875 H. J. S. Maine Lect. Early Hist. Inst. ix. 256 If you sue for a bull, you will miscarry if you describe him as a bull.
1962 C. S. Lewis They asked for Paper 9 If I miscarry, the University might come to regret..my election.
6. † b. transitive (in passive). To take or deliver (a letter, etc.) to the wrong destination. Obsolete.
a. intransitive. Of a letter, etc.: to fail to reach its proper destination; to be delivered to the wrong recipient.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [verb (intransitive)] > of letter: reach destination > fail to
miscarry1592
miss1847
1592 H. Wotton Let. 3 Dec. in L. P. Smith Life & Lett. Sir H. Wotton (1907) I. 293 Upon doubt lest some have miscarried, I have in this included a post-cipher.
1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iii. ii. 30 The Cardinals Letters to the Pope miscarried, And came to th'eye o'th'King. View more context for this quotation
1683 J. Locke Let. 27 Mar. in J. Locke & E. Clarke Corr. (1927) 93 I repeat this to you here again that if the bill and my last letter should have miscarried, you might go to Mr. Minifie for the money.
1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 26 Sept. (1948) I. 30 My penny-post letter, I suppose, miscarried: I will write another.
1747 G. G. Beekman Let. 25 Nov. in Beekman Mercantile Papers (1956) I. 33 In cace My Letters Should miscary and not Come to.
a1839 W. M. Praed Poems (1864) II. 10 Has the last pipe of hock miscarried?
1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain II. xvii. 361 I supposed..that my letter had miscarried.
1866 A. Crump Pract. Treat. Banking v. 101 If a bill miscarry—unless payable to ‘bearer’—the unlawful possessor can neither acquire nor convey any title thereto.
1929 A. M. Lindbergh Let. 12 Feb. in Hour of Gold (1973) 16 Your telegram miscarried.
1988 F. Tomlin T. S. Eliot (BNC) 133 Many of my letters home miscarried, because..the post went through enemy-occupied Europe.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > correspondence > postal services > [verb (transitive)] > deliver letters > to wrong person or place
miscarry1651
misdeliver1800
society > travel > transport > [verb (transitive)] > cause to be conveyed or send > cause to be delivered at destination > misdeliver
miscarry1651
misdeliver1800
1651 in W. Fraser Douglas Bk. (1885) IV. 258 I perswad my self still my letters and my sisters have been miscaryed that you came not to us heer.
1665 J. Strype in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) 183 I..think my Tuesday letter was miscarried, because no Answer to it.
1786 T. Jefferson Let. 22 Aug. in Papers (1954) X. 285 If the letter of advice is miscarried.
1860 Rep. Harper's Ferry (U.S. Senate Sel. Comm. Harper's Ferry) 252 After the publication of the letter, I sent it to him…It was miscarried in the mails, he told me.
1875 Catholic World Nov. 181 The Duke of Suffolk has all his emissaries bribed to open all packages of letters sent by post, and that one addressed to me has been miscarried.
7. intransitive. Of plants, seeds, land, etc.: to be unfruitful or unproductive; to fail to produce growth. Now rare (archaic and poetic in later use).
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by poor growth > wither [verb (intransitive)] > fail
fail1297
miscarry1598
1598 W. Shakespeare Love's Labour's Lost iv. i. 111 My Lady goes to kill hornes, but if thou marrie, hang me by the necke, if horns that yeere miscarrie . View more context for this quotation
a1682 Sir T. Browne Certain Misc. Tracts (1683) 77 [A plant] not subject to miscarry in Flowers and Blossomes.
1707 J. Mortimer Whole Art Husbandry (1721) II. 124 The worst Enemies to this Plant are a sort of Flea that fastens upon its Shoots, and makes it miscarry.
1740 J. Tull Suppl. Horse-hoing Husbandry (ed. 2) 254 In other Parts of the same Fields, where a much less Number of Seeds had miscarried, the Crop was less.
1884 Bible (R.V.) 2 Kings ii. 19 The situation of this city is pleasant..but the water is naught, and the land miscarryeth.
1956 E. Muir Coll. Poems (1960) 237 This is a difficult land. Here things miscarry Whether we care, or do not care enough.
ΚΠ
1632 W. Lithgow Totall Disc. Trav. vi. 262 If any of them had missed [his footing], his sliding downe had miscarried them both ouer the Rocke.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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