mismove

present singular third person mismoves · participle present mismoving · participle past mismoved · past mismoved · alternative dialectal mismave

1. ambitransitiveTo move wrongly, incorrectly, or in error.

   She could card silks accurately, and even pick up with the needle's eye the fine end in the broken cocoon, and wind it ofl and reel it with a hand that never wavered or mismoved.”

   2013, Gertrude Whiting, Old-Time Tools & Toys of Needlework

   2 more examples

   Good morra, Willie," says he, with the same old vicious smile. "Good morra and good luck," says Willie, as little as ever mismoved, "won't ye sit down and have a pick of dinner with us?"

   1904, Seumas MacManus, In Chimney Corners: Merry Tales of Irish Folk Lore

   I screamed out a concession and the kids, disgruntled, wandered back to their own games. Then I asked to watch Marty play Brian. During this match, too, Marty mismoved the kings. Brian didn't seem to notice. I sent them both to the nurse.

   1971, Steven Daniels, How 2 Gerbils, 20 Goldfish, 200 Games, 2000 Books, and I Taught Them How to Read

2. Northern EnglandUKdialectaltransitiveTo disturb; trouble; to disconcert; alarm; flurry.

   Synonyms: dismay

plural mismoves · alternative dialectal mismave

1. A wrong move.

   The only drawback, the only mismove that has been made by Gilmore on this campaigne was the false + fatal one of attacking by Storm the hell-hole “Wagner” on the night of July 18/63.

   2009, Neal E. Wixson, Echoes from the Boys of Company H

   2 more examples

   If he was at fault at all, it must have been some unconscious misjudgment, mistake, or mismove in manipulating the brake or in applying the reverse current, not disclosed by the evidence. Such misjudgment, mismove, or mistake [...]

   1896, The Northwestern Reporter

   Yet as I read what took place there, I had the feeling something very important was going on, that perhaps if Christ had made the slightest mismove, it might have been all up for humanity.

   1999, June Strong, Project Sunlight