[mis.take] vb mis.took ; mis.tak.en ; mis.tak.ing [ME, fr. ON mistaka to take by mistake, fr. mis- + taka to take--more at take] vt (14c) 1: to blunder in the choice of "mistook her way in the dark"
2. a: to misunderstand the meaning or intention of: misinterpret "don't ~ me, I mean exactly what I said" b: to make a wrong judgment of the character or ability of
3: to identify wrongly: confuse with another "I mistook him for his brother" ~ vi: to be wrong "you mistook when you thought I laughed at you --Thomas Hardy" -- mis.tak.en.ly adv -- mis.tak.er n
[2]mistake n (1638) 1: a misunderstanding of the meaning or implication of something
2: a wrong action or statement proceeding from faulty judgment, inadequate knowledge, or inattention syn see error