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Miss vs Left - What's the difference?

miss | left |

As verbs the difference between miss and left

is that miss is (ambitransitive) to fail to hit while left is (leave) or left can be (ireland|colloquial) permitted, allowed to proceed.

As nouns the difference between miss and left

is that miss is a failure to hit or miss can be a title of respect for a young woman (usually unmarried) with or without a name used while left is the left side or direction.

As an adjective left is

the opposite of right; toward the west when one is facing north.

As an adverb left is

on the left side.

miss

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) missen, from (etyl) .

Verb

(es)
  • (ambitransitive) To fail to hit.
  • I missed the target.
    I tried to kick the ball, but missed .
  • * (Francis Bacon) (1561-1626)
  • Men observe when things hit, and not when they miss .
  • * (Edmund Waller) (1606-1687)
  • Flying bullets now, / To execute his rage, appear too slow; / They miss , or sweep but common souls away.
  • To fail to achieve or attain.
  • to miss an opportunity
  • * (John Locke) (1632-1705)
  • When a man misses his great end, happiness, he will acknowledge he judged not right.
  • To feel the absence of someone or something, sometimes with regret.
  • I miss you! Come home soon!
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
  • What by me thou hast lost, thou least shalt miss .
  • *
  • The boy became volubly friendly and bubbling over with unexpected humour and high spirits. He tried to persuade Cicely to stay away from the ball-room for a fourth dance. Nobody would miss them, he explained.
  • To fail to understand or have a shortcoming of perception.
  • miss the joke
  • To fail to attend.
  • Joe missed the meeting this morning.
  • To be late for something (a means of transportation, a deadline, etc.).
  • I missed the plane!
  • (sports) To fail to score (a goal).
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 18, author=Ben Dirs, work=BBC Sport
  • , title= Rugby World Cup 2011: England 41-10 Georgia , passage=Georgia, ranked 16th in the world, dominated the breakdown before half-time and forced England into a host of infringements, but fly-half Merab Kvirikashvili missed three penalties.}}
  • (obsolete) To go wrong; to err.
  • * (Edmund Spenser) (c.1552–1599)
  • Amongst the angels, a whole legion / Of wicked sprites did fall from happy bliss; / What wonder then if one, of women all, did miss ?
  • (obsolete) To be absent, deficient, or wanting.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (c.1564–1616)
  • What here shall miss , our toil shall strive to mend.
    Usage notes
    * This is a catenative verb that takes the gerund (-ing) . See
    Antonyms
    * (to fail to hit) hit, strike, impinge on, run into, collide with * (to feel the absence of) have, feature
    Derived terms
    * hit-and-miss * miss a trick * miss the mark * miss the point * miss the boat * miss fire, misfire * miss out * near miss

    Noun

    (es)
  • A failure to hit.
  • A failure to obtain or accomplish.
  • An act of avoidance.
  • I think I’ll give the meeting a miss .

    Etymology 2

    From (mistress).

    Noun

    (wikipedia miss)
  • A title of respect for a young woman (usually unmarried) with or without a name used.
  • You may sit here, miss .
    You may sit here, Miss Jones.
  • An unmarried woman; a girl.
  • * Cawthorn
  • Gay vanity, with smiles and kisses, / Was busy 'mongst the maids and misses .
  • A kept woman; a mistress.
  • (Evelyn)
  • (card games) In the game of three-card loo, an extra hand, dealt on the table, which may be substituted for the hand dealt to a player.
  • left

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) left, luft, leoft, lift, lyft, from (etyl) left, . More at (l), (l).

    Adjective

  • The opposite of right; toward the west when one is facing north.
  • Turn left at the corner.
  • (politics) pertaining to the political left; liberal.
  • Synonyms
    * left-hand * sinister * sinistral
    Antonyms
    * right
    Derived terms
    * left-hand * left-handed * left wing * two left feet

    Adverb

    (-)
  • On the left side.
  • Towards the left side.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The left side or direction.
  • (politics) The ensemble of left-wing political parties. Those holding left-wing views as a group.
  • The political left is not holding enough power.
  • (boxing) A punch delivered with the left fist.
  • Synonyms
    * (left side or direction) , port * (politics)
    Derived terms
    * lefty * to the left

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) left, variant of . More at leave.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (leave).
  • * , chapter=8
  • , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients , passage=Afore we got to the shanty Colonel Applegate stuck his head out of the door. His temper had been getting raggeder all the time, and the sousing he got when he fell overboard had just about ripped what was left of it to ravellings.}}
  • Remaining.
  • Etymology 3

    From a verbal use of . More at leave.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (Ireland, colloquial) permitted, allowed to proceed.
  • We were not left go to the beach after school except on a weekend.

    References

    * The Concise Dictionary of English Etymology, Walter W. Skeat.

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