misread
v.v. to read something incorrectly or not understand it properly. You might do this if you look at a sign the wrong way or if a book is hard to follow.
v. to read something incorrectly or fail to interpret it accurately. Often used in the context of visual perception or comprehension of written text.
I misread the instructions and used the wrong color.
The student misread the question and answered a different part of the exam instead of the one requested.
The historian argued that the treaty was misread by both sides, leading to a series of misunderstandings that eventually triggered the conflict.
From Middle English misreden, from Old English misrǣdan (“to advise wrongly; read wrongly”), equivalent to mis- + read. Cognate with Saterland Frisian misräide (“to go wrong, fail”), Dutch misraden (“to guess wrongly”), German missraten (“to fail; go wrong; become wayward”). For the noun, compare Old English misrǣd (“misguidance; misconduct”).