Word of the day: ‘MISHAP’
Pronunciation : /ˈmɪshæp/
                         : MIS-hap

Meaning
Mishap refers to an unfortunate event or accident that causes inconvenience, harm, or misfortune. It is generally less severe than a disaster but still undesirable.

Origin
The word "mishap" comes from Middle English, where it was formed by combining the prefix "mis-" (meaning "bad" or "wrong") with "hap" (meaning "chance" or "luck"). The term can be traced back to around 1225 in texts like Ancrene Riwle and is likely borrowed from the French term mescheance, which also meant mishap.

History
Mishap has been used since the early 15th century, initially referring to a "bad chance" before evolving into a more general term for any small accident or undesirable event that causes disruption but is not catastrophic.

Examples from books and articles

  • "In this way they reached the stables without mishap and the horse cantered in proudly to his usual place in the row." — A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
  • "I was born with half my brain dried up like a prune, deprived of blood by an unfortunate foetal mishap." — The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Synonyms

  • Accident
  • Incident
  • Setback
  • Misfortune
  • Blow
  • Calamity
  • Crisis
  • Slip-up
  • Lapse