Defn: Unlucky. R. Browning.
MISCHARACTERIZE
Mis*char"ac*ter*ize, v. t.
Defn: To characterize falsely or erroneously; to give a wrong
character to.
They totally mischaracterize the action. Eton.
MISCHARGE
Mis*charge", v. t.
Defn: To charge erroneously, as in account.
— n.
Defn: A mistake in charging.
MISCHIEF
Mis"chief, n. Etym: [OE. meschef bad result, OF. meschief; pref. mes-
(L. minus less) + chief end, head, F. chef chief. See Minus, and
Chief.]
1. Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity, mishap; trivial evil caused by thoughtlessness, or in sport. Chaucer. Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs. Ps. lii. 2. The practice whereof shall, I hope, secure me from many mischiefs. Fuller.
2. Cause of trouble or vexation; trouble. Milton. The mischief was, these allies would never allow that the common enemy was subdued. Swift. To be in mischief, to be doing harm or causing annoyance. — To make mischief, to do mischief, especially by exciting quarrels. — To play the mischief, to cause great harm; to throw into confusion. [Colloq.]
Syn. — Damage; harm; hurt; injury; detriment; evil; ill. — Mischief, Damage, Harm. Damage is an injury which diminishes the value of a thing; harm is an injury which causes trouble or inconvenience; mischief is an injury which disturbs the order and consistency of things. We often suffer damage or harm from accident, but mischief always springs from perversity or folly.