misere: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical (card games); literary/formal (general use)
Quick answer
What does “misere” mean?
A bid or declaration in certain card games (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bid or declaration in certain card games (e.g., solo whist, bridge) where the player undertakes to win no tricks.
By extension, a situation of extreme poverty, distress, or hardship; a state of utter defeat or failure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The card game term is used in both varieties. The general sense of 'misery' is slightly more likely to be encountered in British English due to French influence.
Connotations
In card games, neutral/technical. In general use, carries a strong, somewhat dramatic or archaic connotation of profound wretchedness.
Frequency
Very low frequency overall; the card game sense is niche. The general sense is extremely rare.
Grammar
How to Use “misere” in a Sentence
to bid/declare (a) misereto be in (a state of) misereVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misere” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to misere, risking everything on a single hand.
- Would you ever misere with such a weak hand?
American English
- She misered and somehow succeeded.
- I don't recommend misering unless you're very confident.
adjective
British English
- The misere bid is a high-risk strategy.
- They found themselves in a misere situation.
American English
- A misere contract is difficult to fulfill.
- The misere declaration surprised everyone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rare; may appear in historical or literary studies discussing poverty or French loanwords.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in the rules and discussion of specific trick-taking card games.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “misere”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “misere”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misere”
- Misspelling as 'misery' (the common word for unhappiness).
- Using in general contexts where 'misery' or 'poverty' would be appropriate and understood.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is a low-frequency loanword from French, used primarily as a technical term in card games and occasionally in literary contexts.
'Misery' is the common English word for great unhappiness. 'Misere' is a specific card game term or a literary synonym for extreme poverty/destitution, pronounced with a French-like ending.
It is not recommended, as it will likely not be understood. Use 'misery', 'poverty', or 'destitution' instead, depending on the context.
It is a feature of trick-taking games like solo whist, bridge (in some variants), and other games of the whist family.
A bid or declaration in certain card games (e.
Misere is usually technical (card games); literary/formal (general use) in register.
Misere: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˈzɛː/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪˈzɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in utter misere (literary)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'miser' in utter 'misere'—a miser who has lost everything in a card game, left in complete poverty.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOSS/FAILURE IS A HOLE (falling into a state of misere).
Practice
Quiz
In a card game context, what does 'misere' specifically mean?