amiss

[ uh-mis ]

adverb

1. out of the right or proper course, order, or condition; improperly; wrongly; astray:

   Did I speak amiss?

   Synonyms: unsuitably, inappropriately

   Antonyms: properly, rightly

adjective

1. improper; wrong; faulty:

   I think something is amiss in your calculations.

   Synonyms: askew, awry, erroneous, mistaken

   Antonyms: true, correct

amiss

/ əˈmɪs /

adverb

1. in an incorrect, inappropriate, or defective manner
2. take something amiss
   to be annoyed or offended by something

adjective

1. postpositive wrong, incorrect, or faulty

Word History and Origins

Origin of amiss¹

1200–50; Middle English amis, equivalent to a- a- ¹ + mis wrong. See miss ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of amiss¹

C13 a mis, from mis wrong; see miss ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. take amiss, to be offended at or resentful of (something not meant to cause offense or resentment); misunderstand:

   I couldn't think of a way to present my view so that no one would take it amiss.

More idioms and phrases containing amiss

see under take the wrong way .

Example Sentences

Experts say there’s nothing amiss in the district beyond California’s typically poky counting speeds and what’s known as the “red mirage” or the “blue shift.”

From Los Angeles Times

Foster said he’s fallen 10 times in various places since he first noticed something was amiss about eight years ago, a neighbor once hoisting him onto his back after a slip in an alley.

From Los Angeles Times

However, they said that initially they had no reason to suspect anything was amiss.

From Los Angeles Times

An exchange of messages shows the Facebook user reassuring the mum that nothing is amiss, even sharing "caravan insurance documents" and denying being scammers.

From BBC

It didn’t take long for Muncy and the team to realize something was amiss when he was on the IL.

From Los Angeles Times