Mis‐take″ (mĭs‐tāk″), v. t. [imp. & obs. p. p.Mistook (–to͝ok″); p. p.Mistaken (–tāk″'n); p. pr. & vb. n.Mistaking.] [Pref. mis- + take: cf. Icel. mistaka.] 1. To take or choose wrongly. Shak.
2. To take in a wrong sense; to misunderstand misapprehend, or misconceive; as, to mistake a remark; to mistake one's meaning. Locke.
My father's purposes have been mistook. Shak.
3. To substitute in thought or perception; as, to mistake one person for another.
A man may mistake the love of virtue for the practice of it. Johnson.
4. To have a wrong idea of in respect of character, qualities, etc.; to misjudge.
Mistake me not so much,
To think my poverty is treacherous. Shak.