misgive definition

1. To give or grant amiss.

2. Specifically: To give doubt and apprehension to, instead of confidence and courage; to impart fear to; to make irresolute; usually said of the mind or heart, and followed by the objective personal pronoun. "So doth my heart misgive me in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours." (Shak) "Such whose consciences misgave them, how ill they had deserved." (Milton)

3. To suspect; to dread.

Origin: Misgave; Misgiven; Misgiving.

(01 Mar 1998)