miscomfort

English

Etymology

From Middle English miscomfort, miscumfort, misconfort, equivalent to mis- +‎ comfort.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɪsˈkʌmfə(ɹ)t/

Noun

miscomfort (countable and uncountable, plural miscomforts)

1. (now rare) Discomfort
   • 1904, The Blacksmiths Journal:

     I claim George, that the cause of all this miscomfort and suffrage that has befallen you and I and millions in this world, is due to this spirit of egoism that has possessed the hearts of those men who are at the head of affairs like this road and other kinds of industries that give employment.

   • 1981, Thomas J. Marleau, Lewis W. Hall, Bulldozers and bombers:

     The sea was calm and the personnel experienced no miscomfort.

   • 2004, Albert Lekan Oyeleye, Language and Discourse in Society:

     In Nigerian English, "sorry' is used as an expression of apology even when one is not the cause of any miscomfort, while "well-done" is applied generally to greet somebody at work.

Verb

miscomfort (third-person singular simple present miscomforts, present participle miscomforting, simple past and past participle miscomforted)

1. (archaic) Discomfort.
   • 1485, Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, page 231v (Book X Chapter xxix):

     Therfore fayre felawes fyghte frely to morowe & myscomforte yow noughte for ony knyȝt though he be the best knyght in the world he maye not haue adoo with vs alle.
     "Therefore, fair fellows, fight freely to-morrow, and miscomfort you nought; for any knight, though he be the best knight in the world, he may not have ado with us all."

   • 1862, Robert of Brunne, Handlyng Synne W. the French Treatise on which it is Founded, page lix:

     This tale is told that none miscomfort him though he have temptations, for never was holy man without them.

   • 1965 April, “The Legend of Venus”, in The Southern Review, volume 1, page 374:

     Now this is what no priest should do— Miscomfort any that live: If a man do penance and repent His sins he should forgive.