'mislead' originates from Old English elements: the prefix 'mis-' and the verb 'lǣdan' (Old English), where 'mis-' meant 'wrongly' and 'lǣdan' meant 'to lead'.

'mislead' changed from Middle English forms such as 'misleden' or 'misleden' (from the elements 'mis-' + 'lǣdan') and eventually became the modern English word 'mislead'.

Initially it meant 'to lead in the wrong direction' (often physically), but over time it evolved into its current common meaning 'to cause someone to have a wrong idea or to deceive'.