mis-
mɪs
mis- is the arrow that lands just off the mark
The picture Something travelling straight bends slightly and passes beside the place it should have hit. mis- goes past the mark; re- goes back and hits it again.
Where the picture shows up in mis-
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hearing past the meaning
I think you misunderstood me.
aɪ θɪŋk juː ˌmɪsʌndərˈstʊd miː
I think you took my words the wrong way.
Words leave the mouth, curve, and slide past the side of the ear.
mis (off) + understand.
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put down off its spot
I misplaced my badge again.
aɪ mɪsˈpleɪst maɪ bædʒ əˈɡen
I've lost track of my badge again.
The badge's place is empty and the card lies under the wrong stack of paper.
mis (off) + place.
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the eye on the wrong line
I misread the schedule.
aɪ mɪsˈred ðə ˈskedʒuːl
I read the schedule wrong.
A finger rests one row low on the timetable and reads the neighbouring time.
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a letter off in the spelling
You misspelled my last name.
juː mɪsˈpeld maɪ læst neɪm
My surname is spelled wrong here.
On the name tag one letter has been written as a different letter.
mis (off) + spell.
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the hand on the wrong thing
It was an honest mistake.
ɪt wɑːz ən ˈɑːnɪst mɪˈsteɪk
It was just an error, nothing more.
Two identical boxes; the hand lifts the wrong one and carries it out.
mis (off) + take (pick up).
All of it in one picture
mis- is one line drifting off true. Words arrive beside the meaning they were aimed at and you misunderstand; an object lands beside its proper spot and it is misplaced. Your eye slides onto the wrong line and you misread; your hand puts one wrong letter in and you misspell; your hand lifts the wrong box and that is a mistake. So when you see mis-, ask what went past what.