mistake
v.
make an error, be wrong; misinterpret, misunderstand; confuse
n.
blunder, fault; error
Mistake
mistake
Noun
1. a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention; "he made a bad mistake"; "she was quick to point out my errors"; "I could understand his English in spite of his grammatical faults"
(synonym) error, fault
(hypernym) nonaccomplishment, nonachievement
(hyponym) blot, smear, smirch, spot, stain
(derivation) err, slip
2. an understanding of something that is not correct; "he wasn't going to admit his mistake"; "make no mistake about his intentions"; "there must be some misunderstanding--I don't have a sister"
(synonym) misunderstanding, misapprehension
(hypernym) misconception
(derivation) err, slip
3. part of a statement that is not correct; "the book was full of errors"
(synonym) error
(hypernym) misstatement
(hyponym) corrigendum
(derivation) err, slip
Verb
1. identify incorrectly; "Don't mistake her for her twin sister"
(synonym) misidentify
(hypernym) identify
(hyponym) confuse, confound
(derivation) misinterpretation, misunderstanding, mistaking
2. to make a mistake or be incorrect
(synonym) err, slip
(hyponym) misremember
(derivation) error
Mistake
(v. t.)
To take or choose wrongly.
(v. t.)
To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend, or misconceive; as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's meaning.
(v. t.)
To substitute in thought or perception; as, to mistake one person for another.
(v. t.)
To make or form amiss; to spoil in making.
(v. t.)
To have a wrong idea of in respect of character, qualities, etc.; to misjudge.
(v. i.)
To err in knowledge, perception, opinion, or judgment; to commit an unintentional error.
(n.)
Misconception, error, which when non-negligent may be ground for rescinding a contract, or for refusing to perform it.
(n.)
An apprehending wrongly; a misconception; a misunderstanding; a fault in opinion or judgment; an unintentional error of conduct.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
Mistake
An error committed in relation to some matter of fact affecting the rights of one of the parties to a contract.
Mistakes in making a contract are distinguished ordinarily into, first, mistakes as to the motive; secondly, mistakes as to the person, with whom the contract is made; thirdly, as to the subject matter of the contract; and, lastly, mistakes of fact and of law.
In general, courts of equity will correct and rectify all mistakes in deeds and contracts founded on good consideration.
This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.