mis·di·rect

[mis-di-rekt]
verb (used with object)
to direct or address wrongly or incorrectly: to misdirect a person; to misdirect a letter.

Origin:
1595–1605; mis-1 + direct

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
misdirect (ˌmɪsdɪˈrɛkt) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
vb
1.  to give (a person) wrong directions or instructions
2.  to address (a letter, parcel, etc) wrongly
 
misdi'rection
 
n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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00:10
Misdirect is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
to spend time idly; loaf.
to bark; yelp.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

misdirect
c.1600, "give wrong directions to;" see mis- (1) + direct (v.). First record of misdirection "action of a conjurer, thief, etc. to distract someone" is from 1943.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Clerks took bribes to decide whether or not to open cases and to hide or
  misdirect the files of those accused of crimes.
Eyespots may confuse predators such as birds and misdirect them from the soft,
  vulnerable part of the butterfly's body.
Court clerks took bribes to decide whether or not to open cases and to hide or
  misdirect the files of those accused of crimes.
If you attempt to use this method it will misdirect you.
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