mislisten

English

Etymology

mis- +‎ listen

Verb

mislisten (third-person singular simple present mislistens, present participle mislistening, simple past and past participle mislistened)

1. To misunderstand or misinterpret something to which one listens, especially as a result of poor attention.
   • 1861 November, Sarah A. Myers, “Legends of Dumpling Hill— Tim Bennet”, in The Ladies' Repository, volume 21, number 41:

     "I know that," said Nancy, as she stood beside the mourning mother, twisting the corner of her apron in her fingers, "many's the talk me and Mr. Murphy have had about him, and I do say he was the peaceablest boy I ever see, never misliten' any body."

   • 1968, Ginn Secondary School English Language and Composition Series, page 57:

     Larry's feeling of frustration with the class causes him to “mislisten” to the selection – although the selection may not have been appropriate.

   • 1981, United States. Congress. House. Committee on Government Operations. Subcommittee on Government Information and Individual Rights, Continued Examination of the Postal Service Plan for a Nine-digit Zip Code, page 83:

     Did I misread or mislisten to the two positions?

   • 1984, Paul K. Davis, Rand's Experience in Applying Artificial Intelligence, page 5:

     Some, of course, will argue that I have misread and mislistened - - but I don ' t think so. Emphasis on words like "knowledge" and "rules" rather than words like "models" and "theories" reveals a particular attitude.

Anagrams

• Milsteins