Words with mis-

Key Notes:-

The Prefix ‘Mis-‘

The prefix ‘mis-‘ is added to the beginning of a word to give it a negative or opposite meaning. It generally indicates something done wrongly or badly. In other words, ‘mis-‘ often means ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’.

Definition & Explanation

Definition: A prefix meaning ‘badly’ or ‘wrongly’.

How it works: Adding ‘mis-‘ to a root word changes the word’s meaning, suggesting an error, mistake, or negative action. For example, understand becomes misunderstand, which means to fail to understand.

Examples of Words with ‘Mis-‘

Word List:	Examples & Explanations:
Misbehave	Misbehave: To behave badly or improperly. Example: The students misbehaved during the assembly.
Misunderstand	Misunderstand: To fail to understand correctly. Example: I misunderstood the directions and got lost.
Misspell	Misspell: To spell a word incorrectly. Example: I often misspell the word ‘necessary’.
Mislead	Mislead: To guide someone in the wrong direction or give them the wrong impression. Example: The advertisement misled consumers about the product’s true value.
Misfortune	Misfortune: Bad luck. Example: It was a misfortune that the game was cancelled due to rain.
Misplace	Misplace: To put something in the wrong place and lose it temporarily. Example: I always misplace my keys.
Misuse	Misuse: To use something in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose. Example: It is important not to misuse medication.
Misjudge	Misjudge: To form an incorrect opinion about someone or something. Example: I misjudged the difficulty of the test.

Practice Exercise

Instructions: Complete the following sentences using a word from the list above (Misbehave, Misunderstand, Misspell, Mislead, Misfortune, Misplace, Misuse, Misjudge).

1. It would be a ____________ to think that studying isn’t important.
2. Please don’t ____________ the office supplies; use them only for school work.
3. The magician tried to ____________ the audience with his tricky illusions.
4. I didn’t mean to ____________ you; I thought you knew the answer.
5. The children will ____________ if they aren’t given clear rules.
6. I often ____________ my glasses and can’t find them for hours.
7. It was my ____________ to be stuck in traffic and miss the start of the movie.
8. Did I ____________ your name? I’m so sorry!

Summary

In summary, the prefix ‘mis-‘ is a powerful tool in the English language. Understanding how it works allows you to decipher the meaning of new words and improve your vocabulary. Remember that ‘mis-‘ generally indicates something done wrongly or badly, adding a negative connotation to the root word. By learning to recognize this prefix, you can enhance your reading comprehension and writing skills.

Let’s practice!