mishold

From Middle English misholden, from Old English mishealdan (“not to keep, to neglect, be careless”), equivalent to mis- +‎ hold.

• (verb) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈhoʊld/
• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈmɪshoʊld/

mishold (third-person singular simple present misholds, present participle misholding, simple past misheld, past participle misheld or (archaic) misholden)

1. (transitive) To hold wrongly, badly, or amiss; lose hold (of); abuse; neglect.
   • 1971, Hamlet Bareh, Khasi fables and folk-tales:

     Kedang while attempting to catch hold of the safe, happened to mishold and fell in the lake where she was drowned; Saika's right hand was also in the safe, but it became stuck in its lid that she could no longer pull it out again.

   • 2006, Macherla Diwakar, A little of it:

     He says that wealth, along with sex and power, is the most sought after and misheld and misused by those who possess it.

   • 2011, Neal L. Veldenax, Baby Boomer Female Names:

     This would help lower my anxiety and make certain that I would not mishold, or God forbid, drop the precious package.

mishold (uncountable)

1. A wrong, bad, or faulty hold.
   • 1896, Joseph Sanger Davies, Dolomite strongholds:

     There was no indecision, no mishold, no stone dislodged, and he possessed such marvellous breathing power, that on reaching a fair foothold he promptly turned and began to haul at the rope without pause or hesitation.

   • 1930, Virginia Tracy, The moment after - Page 231:

     A misstep, mishold, a hundredth of an instant's lack of balance.