mislike

mislike · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · inherited from*leyg-“like, similar; even, level”
2. Old English · inherited frommislīcian“to displease; to disquiet”
3. Middle English · inherited frommisliken“to displease, offend; to disturb mentally, peturb; to dislike, find distasteful; to be unpleasant; to be displeased, dissatisfied, or unhappy; to feel sorry for (someone’s misfortune); of fruit or a tree: to fail to flourish”
4. English todaymislike

From Middle English misliken (“to displease, offend; to disturb mentally, peturb; to dislike, find distasteful; to be unpleasant; to be displeased, dissatisfied, or unhappy; to feel sorry for (someone’s misfortune); of fruit or a tree: to fail to flourish”) [and other forms], from Old English mislīcian (“to displease; to disquiet”), from mis- (prefix meaning ‘bad; badly; wrong; wrongly’, or indicating a failure or lack) + līcian (“to like; to appeal to, please”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leyg- (“like, similar; even, level”)). The English word is analysable as mis- + like. Cognates * Middle Dutch mislīken * Middle Low German mislīken * Old High German misselīchēn (“to displease”) (Middle High German misselīchen) * Old Norse mislíka (Icelandic mislíka (“to dislike”)) * Old Swedish mislika (modern Swedish misslika)

mislike · noun²

1. Old English · inherited fromlīcian
2. Middle English · inherited frommislike“displeasure; hardship; sorrow; unpleasantness”
3. English todaymislike

From Middle English mislike (“displeasure; hardship; sorrow; unpleasantness”), from mis- (prefix meaning ‘bad; badly; wrong; wrongly’, etc.) + like (“pleasure, will”) (from liken (“to give pleasure to, make happy, please; to be pleasant; to suit; (reflexive) to please oneself, take delight; (reflexive) to be pleased to do (something); to like; to approve of, be in favour of; to be delighted or pleased; to choose, want, wish”), from Old English līcian (verb): see further at etymology 1).

mislike · adjective³

From mis- (prefix meaning ‘bad; badly; wrong; wrongly’) + like (“similar”, adjective).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 13th c. To disapprove of or dislike (someone or something); to have an aversion to.
• from 9th c. To displease or offend (someone).