Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Misprision
Mis-pri′sion
,Noun.
1.
The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake.
[Archaic]
Fuller.
The
misprision
of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion. Hare.
2.
Neglect; undervaluing; contempt.
[Obs.]
Shak.
3.
(Law)
A neglect, negligence, or contempt.
☞ In its larger and older sense it was used to signify “every considerable misdemeanor which has not a certain name given to it in the law.”
In a more modern sense it is applied exclusively to two offenses: –
1.
2.
Russell.
In a more modern sense it is applied exclusively to two offenses: –
1.
Misprision of treason
, which is omission to notify the authorities of an act of treason by a person cognizant thereof. Stephen.
2.
Misprision of felony
, which is a concealment of a felony by a person cognizant thereof. Stephen.
Definition 2024
misprision
misprision
English
Noun
misprision (plural misprisions)
- (law) Criminal neglect of duty or wrongful execution of official duties.
- Misinterpretation or misunderstanding.
- 1595, Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, III - 2
- What hast thou done? thou hast mistaken quite
- And laid the love-juice on some true-love's sight:
- Of thy misprision must perforce ensue
- Some true love turn'd and not a false turn'd true.
- 1984, Martin Amis, Money, Vintage 2005, p. 331:
- they have what men call self-belief and blame you for your misprisions in their dreams, they are conspiracy theorists, benevolent dictators [...].
- 1595, Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream, III - 2
Usage notes
Negative misprision is misprision by neglect of duty, notably a duty to report information about a felony or treason. Positive misprision is maladministration or the commission of other serious offence falling short of actual felony or treason.
Related terms
- misprision of a felony
- misprision of treason