\Mis*take"\, v. t.
To make or form amiss; to spoil in making. ``Limping
possibilities of mismade human nature.'' --Mrs. Browning.

\Mis*take"\, v. t. [imp. & obs. p. p. {Mistook}; p. p.
{Mistaken}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mistaking}.] [Pref. mis- + take:
cf. Icel. mistaka.]
1. To take or choose wrongly. [Obs. or R.] --Shak.
2. To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend,
   or misconceive; as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's
   meaning. --Locke.
         My father's purposes have been mistook. --Shak.
3. To substitute in thought or perception; as, to mistake one
   person for another.
         A man may mistake the love of virtue for the
         practice of it.                       --Johnson.
4. To have a wrong idea of in respect of character,
   qualities, etc.; to misjudge.
         Mistake me not so much, To think my poverty is
         treacherous.                          --Shak.

\Mis*take"\, v. i.
To err in knowledge, perception, opinion, or judgment; to
commit an unintentional error.
      Servants mistake, and sometimes occasion
      misunderstanding among friends.          --Swift.

\Mis*take"\, n.
1. An apprehending wrongly; a misconception; a
   misunderstanding; a fault in opinion or judgment; an
   unintentional error of conduct.
         Infallibility is an absolute security of the
         understanding from all possibility of mistake.
                                               --Tillotson.
2. (Law) Misconception, error, which when non-negligent may
   be ground for rescinding a contract, or for refusing to
   perform it.
{No mistake}, surely; without fail; as, it will happen at the
   appointed time, and no mistake. [Low]
Syn: Blunder; error; bull. See {Blunder}.