Amiss
Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words [1]
lit., "out of place" (a, negative, topos, "a place"), denotes unbecoming, not befitting. It is used four times in the NT, and is rendered "amiss" three times in the RV; in the malefactor's testimony of Christ, Luke 23:41; in Festus' words concerning Paul, Acts 25:5 , "if there is anything amiss in the man" (AV, "wickedness"); in Acts 28:6 , of the expected effect of the viper's attack upon Paul (AV, "harm"); in 2—Thessalonians 3:2 , of men capable of outrageous conduct, "unreasonable." See Harm , Unreasonable.
akin to kakos, "evil," is translated "amiss" in James 4:3; elsewhere in various ways. See Evil , Grievous , Miserable , Sore.
King James Dictionary [2]
AMISS', a. a and miss. See Miss.
1. Wrong faulty out of order improper as, it may not be amiss to ask advice. This adjective always follows its noun. 2. adv. In a faulty manner contrary to propriety, truth, law or morality.
Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. James 4 .
Applied to the body, it signifies indisposed as, I am somewhat amiss to day.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (a.) Wrong; faulty; out of order; improper; as, it may not be amiss to ask advice.
(2): (n.) A fault, wrong, or mistake.
(3): (adv.) Astray; faultily; improperly; wrongly; ill.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [4]
a - mis ´: There are two words translated "amiss" in the New Testament, ἄτοπος , átopos , referring to that which is improper or harmful ( Luke 23:41; Acts 28:6 ), while κακῶς , kakō̇s , refers to that which is evil in the sense of a disaster, then to that which is wicked, morally wrong. This latter is the use of it in James 4:3 . The purpose of the prayer is evil, it is therefore amiss and cannot be granted (compare 2 Chronicles 6:37 ).
