† missawn.
Obsolete.
1. Evil-speaking, calumny, slander, insult; an instance of this. Also: desecration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > slander or calumny > [noun]
teleeOE
folk-leasinga1000
tolec1000
wrayingc1000
missaw?c1225
slanderc1290
disclanderc1300
famationc1325
noisec1325
skander1338
missaying1340
misspeecha1375
slanderingc1380
biting1382
defaminga1400
filtha1400
missaya1400
obloquya1438
oblocution?a1439
juroryc1440
defamationa1450
defamea1450
forspeaking1483
depravinga1500
defamya1513
injury?1518
depravation1526
maledictiona1530
abusion?1530
blasphemation1533
infamation1533
insectationa1535
calumning1541
calumniation?1549
abuse1559
calumnying1563
calumny1564
belying?1565
illingc1575
scandalizing1575
misparlance?1577
blot1587
libelling1587
scandal1596
traducement1597
injurying1604
deprave1610
vilifying1611
noisec1613
disfame1620
sycophancy1622
aspersion1633
disreport1640
medisance1648
bollocking1653
vilification1653
sugillation1654
blasphemya1656
traduction1656
calumniating1660
blaspheming1677
aspersing1702
blowing1710
infamizing1827
malignation1836
mud-slinging1858
mud-throwing1864
denigration1868
mud-flinging1876
dénigrement1883
malignment1885
injurious falsehood1907
mud-sling1919
bad-mouthing1939
bad mouth1947
trash-talking1974
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 101 Aȝein misdede oðer mis saȝe [a1250 Nero mis sawe; c1230 Corpus mis sahe]. lo her anonden þe beste remedie.
c1330 (?c1300) Guy of Warwick (Auch.) l. 3436 Herkeneþ to me..Of edwite & of missawe, Þat ous is don.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) 14683 (MED) For þine werkes gain þe lau And for þe luue o þi missau [a1400 Fairf. missagh].
a1400 (c1303) R. Mannyng Handlyng Synne (Harl.) 778 Ȝyf þou euere swore by oure lady..Hastly þe withdrawe; Vengaunce comþ for swych myssawe.
c1440 (a1349) R. Rolle Eng. Prose Treat. (1921) 11 (MED) Þay say to þam na wordes of myssawe..ne of displesance.
a1500 (c1340) R. Rolle Psalter (Univ. Oxf. 64) (1884) xix. 3 All..wrangis and myssaghis..that thou suffird for vs.
2. Improper use or expression. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [noun]
abusion?1387
misusing1395
misusea1398
abusingc1450
abuse?1473
misordering1526
abusage1548
misusage1567
misemployment1597
missaw1614
misimprovement1644
abusivenessa1677
misemploying1686
violation1795
1614 J. Davies in W. Browne Shepheards Pipe sig. G4 So my sp'rits been steept In dulnesse, through these duller times missawes Of sik-like musicke (riming rudely cleept).
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.?c1225