(v. t.) To render wrongly; to translate or recite wrongly.

bias color contort distort garble get one wrong get wrong gloss misapply misapprehend miscite misconceive misconstrue misdeem misdirect misexplain misexplicate misexpound misinterpret misjudge misquote misread misrepresent mistake mistranslate misunderstand misuse pervert slant squeeze strain strain the sense torture twist the words varnish wrench