Misdeed
/ˌmɪsˈdiːd/noun
An evil, wrong, or criminal act.
Did you know?The word is a transparent Old English compound, with *mis-* meaning “wrongly” and *dǣd* meaning “deed,” showing how English has long framed wrongdoing as an act with moral weight.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
misdǣd
“a wrong or evil deed”
Middle English
ME
misdede
“a wrongful act, sin, or offense”
Early Modern English
English
misdeed
“an evil or wrongful act”
Modern English
English
misdeed
“a wrong, illegal, or immoral act”