mis adj.

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TR5.1422 Thǐs léttrě fórth wǎs sént ǔntó Crǐséydě,
TR5.1423 Ǒf whích hǐre ánswěre ín ěfféct wǎs thís:
TR5.1424 Fǔl pítǒuslý shě wróot ǎyéyn, ǎnd séydě,
TR5.1425 Thǎt álsǒ sóne ǎs thát shě mýghte, y̌wýs,
TR5.1426 Shě wóldě cóme, ǎnd ménde ǎl thát wǎs mýs.
TR5.1427 Ǎnd fýnǎlý shě wróot ǎnd séyde hy̌m thénně,
TR5.1428 Shě wóldě cóme, yě, bút shě nýstě whénně.

Line Information

  • Differences among the manuscripts and editions:
  • English translations (Windeatt: 1998): This letter was sent to Criseyde, to which her reply essentially was this: she wrote back in very pitiful vein and said that, as soon as she could, indeed, she would come and put right all that was amiss. And finally she wrote and said to him then that she would come, yes, but she did not know when.
  • Japanese translations (Sasamoto: 2012):  この手紙はクリセイデに送られたが、彼女の返事は要するにこうだった。大変哀れみ深く返事を書き記した。ぜひとも、できるだけ早く、帰郷して、犯した過ちをすべて悔い改めたいと。そして最後に、彼にこう書き送った。帰りたい、本当に、でもいつになるか分からないと。
  • Chinese translations (Fang: 1956): 这封信送给了克丽西德;她的回信大意是如此;她说来很觉伤感,然一有机会就可回来,弥补一切缺憾。最后她写着,她一定回来,只是不知何时。

Word Information

  • Etymology: From mis n. & pref. or amis
  • Addresser: Criseyde (in her letter)
  • Addressee: Troilus
  • Adjectives with which juxtaposed: N/A
  • Counterpart in its source (Fil): 7.76
  • Noun(s) (NPs) modified: Others
  • Attributive/ Predicative: predicative

Information in Previous Studies

  • OED: Not quoted
  • MED1. (b) as predicate adjective: bad, evil; wrong; defective, erroneous, inaccurate; restoren..that is ~, to compensate (an enemy) for loss or grievance in war; (s.v. mis, adj.)
  • Commented in other previous works:
  • Windeatt (2003: 328): mys: amiss
  • Fisher (1989: 526): mys: wrong
  • Benson (1987): N/A
  • Davis et al. (1979): amiss, wrong (s.v. mis, adj.)
  • Donaldson (1975: 983): mis: amiss
  • Baugh (1963: 204): mys: wrong

Possible Definitions

amiss, wrong

Comments from the Editor

In Fil.7.76, Boccaccio specifies that Troiolo and Pandaro waited for a significant amount of time before receiving a reply from Criseida. However, Chaucer does not explicitly mention the duration it took to hear back from Criseyde.