misunderestimate

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Verb 1.2.1 Derived terms 1.2.2 Quotations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Assumed to be aBlend of misunderstand and underestimate. Often mistakenly believed to be a malapropism by US president George W. Bush, though it has been used at least as far back as 1897.

[edit] Verb

to misunderestimate (third-person singular simple present misunderestimates, present participle misunderestimating, simple past and past participle misunderestimated)

1. (colloquial, malapropism or intentionally incorrect) To underestimate.

[edit] Derived terms

• misunderestimation

[edit] Quotations

• 1897 ...is almost sure to misunderstand and misunderestimate the significance of the question at hand. — The Outlook, American Diplomacy on the Bosphorous April 17, 1897
• 1975 Now in the very earliest years of the eighteenth century it is understandable that, owing to the inevitable, due to our never-to-be-misunderestimated Frederick the Gross... — Thomas Merton, My Argument With the Gestapo 1975.
• 1980 And I think after Three Mile Island, not only does the NRC itself understand that it sadly misunderestimated the number of ways in ... — Accident at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Powerplant: Oversight Hearings 1980
• 1992 ...not only the disciples within their accounts, had seriously misunderestimated the life and teaching of Jesus. — Adelbert Denaux, John and the Synoptics 1992
• 1997 Whatever happened to Espy? Well, what happened to Espy is what happens to people whether you're a former congressman or not. If you understand the power -- if you misunderestimate the power of the intense bureaucracy in these agencies and departments and federal institutions, you go, they stay.. — John Conyers (D-MI), DELIVERS REMARKS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S COALITION OF MINORITY EMPLOYEES August 19, 1997
• 2003 Hence, while anticipating incoming fire, here are several factors for why even the most liberal of Democrats should not "misunderestimate" — my favorite Bushism — our prez. — Joel Connelly, Seattle Post-Intelligencer Wednesday, April 30, 2003
• 2004 "I think that anybody who misunderestimates this president is going to have egg on their face in a few years," Rice told me. — Bill Sammon, Misunderestimated: The President Battles Terrorism, John Kerry, and the Bush Haters. (ISBN 0060723831), page 347