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Glite Dictionary
to mislay

to mislay

1 4.3
To put something somewhere and later cannot find it again
  • verb
  • /mɪsˈleɪ/
translation icon : extraviar
  • Not mislaying important files?

Examples

  • Some absent-minded chap might mislay a piece or two, in a manner of speaking, on the way up from the wreck.

    Jamaica Inn (1939)

  • And don't mislay this, will you?

    The Guns of Navarone (1961)

  • I mislay everything.

    Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

  • Attempt to mislay any distractions out of your hold-up that will stop you from being entirely dedicated to your purpose.

    Blog text (12)

  • If you don't meet your personal lifetime commitment, you'll mislay critical quality and therefore aspect.

    Blog text (15)

  • Create, mislay 100 pounds in 2 months, or intend to work a marathon within the next year if you're only able to travel to a corner.

    Blog text (12)

  • I always mislay my keys when I'm in a rush.

  • If you mislay your wallet, please let me know.

  • She tends to mislay her glasses at least once a week.

Synonyms

to misplace
vsto mislay
104 3.0

To put something in the wrong place so you cannot find it again

is done by accident and results in inability to find the item
to misfile
vsto mislay
3 4.3

To put a document in the wrong file by mistake

applies to any object put away accidentally, not only documents
to mislocate
vsto mislay
1 6.8

To put something in the wrong place

refers to accidental putting that causes inability to find an item

Antonyms

to recover
748 2.5

Get back to a normal state after a loss, for example health or money

to locate
533 2.7

To find the exact place of something, for example a leak or a lost city

How Lost

to lose
∞ 1.0
to mislay
1 4.3
to misplace
104 3.0

Surface Forms

mislay infinitive
mislaying present participle
mislays third person singular
mislaid past
mislaid past participle

Morphology

mislay = lay (transparent) = mis + lay + mis

The verb is formed by the productive prefix 'mis-' (wrongly/badly) added to the verb 'lay', producing the meaning 'put in the wrong place; lose'.

Etymology

The word mislay starts with the part mis- meaning 'wrong' or 'bad', like in mistake, and ends with lay meaning 'to put'. So, to mislay something is to put it in the wrong place and later be unable to find it.