'misinterpret' originates from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' and the verb 'interpret' from Latin 'interpretari', meaning 'to explain or translate'.

'interpretari' transformed into the Old French word 'interpreten', and eventually became the modern English word 'interpret'. The prefix 'mis-' was added to form 'misinterpret'.

Initially, it meant 'to explain wrongly', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.