miscarry
English
Etymology
From Middle English miscarien, equivalent to mis- + carry.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˌmɪsˈkæɹi/
- Rhymes: -æɹi
Verb
miscarry (third-person singular simple present miscarries, present participle miscarrying, simple past and past participle miscarried)
- (obsolete) To have an unfortunate accident of some kind; to be killed, or come to harm. [14th-18th c.]
- (now rare) To go astray; to do something wrong. [from 14th c.]
- To have a miscarriage; to abort a foetus, usually without intent to do so. [from 16th c.]
- To fail to achieve some purpose; to be unsuccessful, to go wrong (of a business, project etc.). [from 16th c.]
- Of a letter etc.: to fail to reach its intended recipient. [from 16th c.]
- William Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost
- Sir Nathaniel, this Biron is one of the votaries with the king; and here he hath framed a letter to a sequent of the stranger queen's, which accidentally, or by the way of progression, hath miscarried.
- 1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy, II.1:
- It likewise alluded to several letters—which, it appeared to me, must have miscarried or been intercepted [...].
- William Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost
Derived terms
Translations
to abort a foetus
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to fail to achieve
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