Pronunciation: [wɒz mɪstˈe͡ɪkən] (IPA) 
The spelling "was mistaken" is made up of three sounds: /wʌz/ for "was", which rhymes with "buzz", followed by /mɪs/ for "mis", which rhymes with "kiss", and finally /ˈteɪkən/ for "taken", which rhymes with "fakin'". The "k" sound in "mistaken" is spelled with a "k" instead of a "c" because it follows the short vowel sound of "i". This spelling rule applies to many other words, such as "mask", "risk", and "disk".
"Was mistaken" is a past tense verb phrase used to indicate that someone held an incorrect belief, assumption, or judgment about something in the past. "Was" functions as the past tense of the verb "to be," while "mistaken" is the past participle form of the verb "to mistake." The phrase is commonly employed when acknowledging an error or acknowledging that one's previous understanding or perception was incorrect.
When someone says they "was mistaken," it suggests they had misunderstood or misinterpreted a situation, statement, fact, or evidence at some point in the past. This admission acknowledges an earlier belief or action that has since been proven wrong or inaccurate. It emphasizes the recognition of one's own fallibility and a willingness to accept new information or correct one's judgment. The phrase often indicates the person's desire to rectify or clarify the mistake and move forward with a more accurate understanding.
For instance, an individual might say, "I thought the meeting was tomorrow, but I was mistaken. It is actually scheduled for today." In this example, the person admits to their previous misinterpretation of the meeting's date and acknowledges that they held an incorrect belief. By using the phrase "was mistaken," they acknowledge their error and provide the correct information.
The phrase "was mistaken" consists of two components: the past tense of the verb "to be" (was) and the adjective "mistaken".
The word "mistaken" originates from the Old Norse word "mistaka" meaning "to take in error" or "to misunderstand". The Old Norse word was formed by combining "mis-" (meaning "wrong" or "incorrect") with "taka" (meaning "to take").
Over time, the word "mistaken" entered Middle English as "mistaken" with a similar meaning of "to take wrongly" or "to misunderstand". The addition of the past tense form of "to be" ("was") indicates that the action of being mistaken occurred in the past.
