When and Where found: I found this word in the Meier (2003) article in the same paragraph that ubiquitous was in. The sentence I found it in is: “It is probable that a good number of children are puzzled by the purpose of these questions [“known answer”], some doubtless concluding, as Gabriela evidently did, that there must be something amiss with the questioner” (p. 245).
What it means: Clearly, the context reveals that amiss refers to something that does not match up. Merriam-Wesbter Dictionary Online states amiss (adj.) as “out of place given the circumstances”. In the sentence it was found, the teacher would be out of place to even bother asking such simple questions because they are obvious.
Level of Familiarity: I am somewhat familiar with the word. I understand it and probably would remember what it meant out of context. I may have used the word in my conversations before.
To know it well: Yes, this word is worth knowing well. Amiss also offers a specific shade of meaning. Instead of simply stating that someone was wrong, stating someone was amiss is less harsh.
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