misgiving

English

Etymology

From misgive [1], from mis- + give, from Middle English give (suggest, given). Compare given and what gives

Noun

misgiving (plural misgivings)

  1. doubt, apprehension, a feeling of dread
    • 1846-1848, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son:
      He could think of her being there, without a lurking misgiving that it would have been better if she had not come.
    • 1900, Theodore Dreiser, Sister Carrie:
      In the night, or the gloomy chambers of the day, fears and misgivings wax strong, but out in the sunlight there is, for a time, cessation even of the terror of death.

Usage notes

Almost always used in the plural.

Synonyms

Translations

References

  1. misgiving” in Douglas Harper, Online Etymology Dictionary, 2001–2019.

Further reading

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