Mis·take v. t. [imp. & obs. p. p. Mistook p. p. Mistaken p. pr. & vb. n. Mistaking.]
1. To take or choose wrongly. [Obs. or R.]
2. To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend, or misconceive; as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's meaning.
My father's purposes have been mistook. --Shak.
3. To substitute in thought or perception; as, to mistake one person for another.
A man may mistake the love of virtue for the practice of it. --Johnson.
4. To have a wrong idea of in respect of character, qualities, etc.; to misjudge.
Mistake me not so much,
To think my poverty is treacherous. --Shak.
Mis·tak·ing, n. An error; a mistake.
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mistaking
n : putting the wrong interpretation on; "his misinterpretation
of the question caused his error"; "there was no
mistaking her meaning" [syn: misinterpretation, misunderstanding]