mishap

From Middle English mishap, myshappe, myssehappe, equivalent to mis- +‎ hap.

• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪshæp/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

mishap (plural mishaps)

1. An accident, mistake, or problem.

   Since the mishap with the banana peel, he watches his step.

   • 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 8, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:

     He had come straight up without mishap or swerving off his course, and his shut teeth unlocked.

2. Ill luck; misfortune; mischance.
   • c. 1588–1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:

     Rome’s readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
     Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!

   • 1612, [Miguel de Cervantes], “Wherein are Rehearsed the Innumerable Misfortunes which Don-Quixote and His Good Squire Sancho Suffered in the Inne, which He to His Harme Thought to be a Castle”, in Thomas Shelton, transl., The History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-errant Don-Quixote of the Mancha. […], London: […] William Stansby, for Ed[ward] Blount and W. Barret, →OCLC, part 3, page 136:

     He ſvvet and ſvvet againe vvith ſuch exceſſiue ſvvoonings, as not only himſelfe, but likevviſe all the beholders, did verily deeme, that his life vvas ending. This ſtorme and miſhappe endured about ſome tvvo hovvres, after vvhich hee remayned not cured as his Maſter, but ſo vveary and indiſpoſed, as hee vvas not able to ſtand.

   • 1909, Major A. Playfair, The Garos, page 92:

     There are certain ceremonies which are observed once a year by a whole community or village, and are intended to safeguard its members from dangers of the forest, and from sickness and mishap during the coming twelve months.

From Middle English mishappen, equivalent to mis- +‎ hap.

• (verb) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈhæp/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æp

mishap (third-person singular simple present mishaps, present participle mishapping, simple past and past participle mishapped)

1. (archaic) To happen through misfortune; to mishappen.

• Thesaurus:luck
• Thesaurus:lucky