misbeholden

English

Alternative forms

misbehadden

Adjective

misbeholden (comparative more misbeholden, superlative most misbeholden)

1. (archaic) Disobliging; offensive or unkind.
   • 1599, Thomas Heywood (attributed - it was published anonymously), King Edward IV, part 2:

     We show thee not one discontented look, Nor render him one misbeholden word ; But his defiance and his dare to war, We swallow with the supple oil of peace ; Which, gentle herald, if thou canst procure, A thousand crowns shall justly guerdon thee.

   • 1798, Ebenezer Erskine, The Whole Works of the Late Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Erskine, Minister of Gospel at Stirling:

     If the Son of God had taken upon him the nature of angels, and passed by the seed of Abraham ; if he had been their Redeemer, as he is their avenger, would ever any of them have spoken a misbeholden word of him, or disparaged his glory ?

   • 1869, Elijah Kellogg, Lion Ben of Elm Island, page 65:

     Ben isn't so good-looking as some young men, nor rich in this world's goods ; but he has good learning and good manners : he is of a good family ; can do more work than any three young men in town ; and for all he is such a giant, never gives a misbeholden word to any one.

   • 1986, United States. Naval History Division, William Bell Clark, William James Morgan, Naval Documents of the American Revolution - Volume 9, page 384:

     Pleasant weather, but we are kept in all day as a punishment for a misbeholden word spoken to the sentry on guard.