Misgive
[,mis'giv]
Definition
(verb.) suggest fear or doubt; 'Her heart misgave her that she had acted inexcusably'.
Editor: Upton--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To give or grant amiss.
(v. t.) Specifically: To give doubt and apprehension to, instead of confidence and courage; to impart fear to; to make irresolute; -- usually said of the mind or heart, and followed by the objective personal pronoun.
(v. t.) To suspect; to dread.
(v. i.) To give out doubt and apprehension; to be fearful or irresolute.
Inputed by Elizabeth
Definition
v.t. to fill with doubt: to destroy confidence.—v.i. to fail as the heart: to give way to doubt.—n. Misgiv′ing mistrust.
Inputed by Alisa
Examples
- As my time drew nearer, and there got to be talk of my having a new coat for the ceremony, my mind began to misgive me. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- My mind misgives me sadly about the future. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- My mind misgives me, was all she said when I had done. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- I should like to be, said I, glancing at the slate as he held it; with a misgiving that the writing was rather hilly. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- When she had disappeared Charley, with misgiving in his eyes, slowly came from the stable door, and going to another point in the bank he looked over. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- I was troubled with no misgiving that it was young in me to respond to her emotions. Charles Dickens. David Copperfield.
- Legree, though he talked so stoutly to Cassy, still sallied forth from the house with a degree of misgiving which was not common with him. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- Sir Leicester has a misgiving that there may be a hidden Wat Tylerish meaning in this expression, and fumes a little. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- But she was tortured with fear, with misgiving. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- It misgave him that the Chief Butler must have known a Collegian, and must have seen him in the College--perhaps had been presented to him. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Emmy's mind somehow misgave her about her friend. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- Her mind misgave her that neither those plans nor any other could permanently restore her mental tranquillity. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
Checker: Nanette