misgivings
|mis-giv-ings|
/mɪsˈɡɪvɪŋz/
(misgiving)
feeling of doubt or unease
Etymology
'misgiving' originates from Old English elements: the prefix 'mis-' (from Old English 'mis-') meaning 'wrongly, badly' combined with the verb 'giefan'/'gifan' (Old English for 'to give'), forming a compound sense related to a 'wrong or ill giving.'
'misgiving' changed from Middle English forms such as 'misgivyng' (and related earlier forms like 'misgeven') and eventually became the modern English word 'misgiving'.
Initially tied to a literal sense related to a 'bad or mistaken giving,' the term's meaning shifted over time to a psychological sense: 'a feeling of doubt, unease, or apprehension.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'misgiving': feelings of doubt, unease, or apprehension about the likely outcome or consequences of something.
She expressed serious misgivings about the proposed changes.
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Noun 2
moral or practical reservations—hesitation or reluctance—about the correctness, wisdom, or honesty of an action or decision.
He had misgivings about accepting the money from an unknown donor.
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Last updated: 2025/11/03 04:02