- mistake (v.)
- early 14c., "to commit an offense;" late 14c., "to misunderstand, misinterpret," from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse mistaka "take in error, miscarry," from mis- "wrongly" (see mis- (1)) + taka "take" (see take (v.)). Related: Mistook; mistaking.
- mistake (n.)
- 1630s, from mistake (v.). Meaning "unintended pregnancy" is from 1957.
