misunderstand

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mis·un·der·stand / ˌmisˌəndərˈstand/ • v. (past and past part. -stood) [tr.] fail to interpret or understand (something) correctly: he had misunderstood the policeman's hand signals | [intr.] I must have misunderstood—I thought you were anxious to leave. ∎  fail to interpret or understand the words or actions of (someone) correctly: don't misunderstand me—I'm not implying she should be working | [as adj.] (misunderstood) he is one of football's most misunderstood men.