misexpress
|mis-ex-press|
🇺🇸
/ˌmɪsɪkˈsprɛs/
🇬🇧
/ˌmɪsɪkˈspres/
express wrongly
Etymology
'misexpress' originates from English, formed by the prefix 'mis-' (from Old English 'mis-', meaning 'wrong' or 'badly') added to the verb 'express', which ultimately comes from Latin 'exprimere', where 'ex-' meant 'out' and 'primere' meant 'to press'.
'express' changed from Latin 'exprimere' to Old French 'exprimer' and Middle English 'expressen', eventually becoming modern English 'express'; the negative prefix 'mis-' comes from Old English 'mis-' and remained productive in English word-formation, producing compounds like 'misexpress'.
Originally, Latin 'exprimere' meant 'to press out'; over time 'express' came to mean 'to put into words' in modern English. With the prefix 'mis-' the compound 'misexpress' developed the clear meaning 'to put into words wrongly' or 'to express incorrectly'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an expression that is incorrect or misleading; an instance of expressing something improperly.
The reporter's misexpression changed the intended meaning of the quote.
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Verb 1
to express something wrongly, unclearly, or in a way that gives a misleading impression.
She misexpressed her opinion during the interview, which led to confusion.
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Adjective 1
describing something that has been expressed in a wrong or misleading way (past-participial use).
The misexpressed remark was later clarified by the speaker.
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Last updated: 2025/09/22 08:28