Definition of MISDEED

misdeed

Plural: misdeeds

Noun

  • A wrongful or improper act; a transgression.
  • improper or wicked or immoral behavior
  • That which was done that should not have been, ranging from any sin or moral offense to various degrees of crime.

Examples

  • Claiming a non-word in Scrabble is considered a misdeed that can cost you dearly.
  • The petty misdeeds of his youth came back to haunt him when he ran for political office and his character was smeared.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English misdede, from Old English misdǣd (“misdeed”), from Proto-West Germanic *missadādi, from Proto-Germanic *missadēdiz (“misdeed”); equivalent to mis- + deed. Cognate with Scots misded (“misdeed”), West Frisian misdied (“misdeed”), Dutch misdaad (“misdeed”), German Missetat (“misdeed”), Swedish missdåd (“misdeed”), Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐍃𐍃𐌰𐌳𐌴𐌸𐍃 (missadēþs, “misdeed”).

Scrabble Score: 11

misdeed: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
misdeed: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
misdeed: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

misdeed: valid Words With Friends Word