† misferev.
Obsolete.
1. intransitive. To do wrong, transgress; to misbehave. With mid, with (= towards).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > [verb (intransitive)]
guiltc825
misdoOE
misfereOE
misnimc1225
trespass1303
forfeita1325
misguiltc1330
misworka1375
transverse1377
offendc1384
mistakec1390
faulta1400
commit1449
misprize1485
digress1541
transgress1662
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
OE Ælfric Let. to Sigeweard (De Veteri et Novo Test.) (Laud) 35 Saul..þæt folc bewerode wið þa hæþenan leoda heardlice mid wæmnum, þeah þe he misferde on manegum oðrum þingum.
?a1300 Fox & Wolf 212 in G. H. McKnight Middle Eng. Humorous Tales (1913) 34 (MED) Men seide þat þou on þine liue Misferdest mis mine wiue.
a1387 J. Trevisa tr. R. Higden Polychron. (St. John's Cambr.) (1882) VIII. 147 Þe outrage of riche men, þat misferde [L. indigne tractabantur] with pore men.
a1393 J. Gower Confessio Amantis (Fairf.) ii. 2432 Thou hast misferd Thenkende.
a1450 Seven Sages (Cambr. Dd.1.17) (1845) 2765 (MED) So bytyde the As dyde hym that levyd more The falnesse of hys wyfvis lore Thane that hym selven sawe and herde, And ther-fore he mysferde.
2. intransitive. To fare ill; to come to grief; to be unfortunate or unsuccessful. Cf. misfare v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
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
c1275 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Calig.) (1978) l. 13091 Ȝif Arður mis-ferde þenne he come to fihte.
c1300 (?a1200) Laȝamon Brut (Otho) 6270 Hii hadde in þan see mochel wowe isoffred; fulle seoue ȝere hii misferde þere.
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Trin. Cambr.) 18311 (MED) Þere I was wiþ my foos mys ferde [a1400 Vesp. vm-sett].
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 158 Whan kyng R. herd of þat mischous tide & how his schippis misferd, he turned vnto þat tide.
c1450 (?c1300) Northern Passion (BL Add.) 166 It was a brygg ouir þat watir to passe, that neuir mane thare mysferde, Ne euyll sawe ne euyll herde.
c1480 (a1400) St. Clement 197 in W. M. Metcalfe Legends Saints Sc. Dial. (1896) I. 378 & his fadir fore doule & wa he trewyt in þe se mysferde.
3. transitive. Perhaps: to harm, mistreat.
ΚΠ
?a1400 (a1338) R. Mannyng Chron. (Petyt) ii. 224 (MED) Þei had Lyncoln taken & þe Juerie misferd, þer tresorie ouerschaken.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2002; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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v.OE