Miss (m&ibreve_;s), n.; pl. Misses (m&ibreve_;ss&ebreve_;z). [Contr. fr. mistress.] 1. A title of courtesy prefixed to the name of a girl or a woman who has not been married. See Mistress, 5.
[1913 Webster]

&hand_; There is diversity of usage in the application of this title to two or more persons of the same name. We may write either the Miss Browns or the Misses Brown.
[1913 Webster]

2. A young unmarried woman or a girl; as, she is a miss of sixteen.
[1913 Webster]

Gay vanity, with smiles and kisses,
Was busy 'mongst the maids and misses. Cawthorn.
[1913 Webster]

3. A kept mistress. See Mistress, 4. [Obs.] Evelyn.
[1913 Webster]

4. (Card Playing) In the game of three-card loo, an extra hand, dealt on the table, which may be substituted for the hand dealt to a player.
[1913 Webster]

Miss (m&ibreve_;s), v. i. 1. To fail to hit; to fly wide; to deviate from the true direction.
[1913 Webster]

Men observe when things hit, and not when they miss. Bacon.
[1913 Webster]

Flying bullets now,
To execute his rage, appear too slow;
They miss, or sweep but common souls away. Waller.
[1913 Webster]

2. To fail to obtain, learn, or find; -- with of.
[1913 Webster]

Upon the least reflection, we can not miss of them. Atterbury.
[1913 Webster]

3. To go wrong; to err. [Obs.]
[1913 Webster]

Amongst the angels, a whole legion
Of wicked sprites did fall from happy bliss;
What wonder then if one, of women all, did miss? Spenser.
[1913 Webster]

4. To be absent, deficient, or wanting. [Obs.] See Missing, a.
[1913 Webster]

What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend. Shak.
[1913 Webster]