Amiss Meaning
/əˈmɪs/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjWrong; faulty; out of order; improper or otherwise incorrect.
advWrongly; mistakenly
Sentence Examples
Don't take it amiss if I criticize your work.
It may not be amiss to give this advice.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His sudden silence made the teacher suspect something was ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I knew something was ____ when I saw the front door wide open.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree English a- English miss English amiss From a- + miss.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"His wisdom and virtue cannot always rectify that which is amiss in himself or his circumstances."
— 1722, William Wollaston, The Religion of Nature Delineated:
"Moreover, all were furnished with carbines and cartridge boxes, and the leader was armed with a sabre with a leather sheath. This was not so much amiss, and would do very well at a distance: but during the two hours' halt at the village aforesaid, I took it into my head, while the owners were enjoying their siesta under the shade of the gateway, just to stride in among them, and take a nearer inspection of the weapons."
— 1836, Charles Joseph La Trobe, The Rambler in Mexico:
"There is a strong feeling across the land that something is amiss in America. You sometimes hear about these feelings when people discuss their concerns about how the baby boom generation is going to bankrupt our social security or Medicare programs, or about the growing size of the national debt that will be paid for by future generations."
— 2009, Robert Perrucci, Carolyn Cummings Perrucci, America at Risk: The Crisis of Hope, Trust, and Caring:
"The fire seven times tried this:
Seven times tried that judgement is,
That did never choose amiss.
Some there be that shadows kiss:
Such have but a shadow's bliss.
There be fools alive, I wis,
Silver'd o'er; and so was this.
I will ever be your head:
So be gone: you are sped."
— c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ix]:
"We shall not do amiss to notice, also, that in ordinary conversation, a few words are used as Turkish singulars, which are, in reality, Arabic plurals; but this is not correct in writing."
— 1856, J. W. Redhouse, An English and Turkish Dictionary, page xxvi:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
His sudden silence made the teacher suspect something was ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
I knew something was ____ when I saw the front door wide open.