Misprision

/ˌmɪsˈpɹɪʒn̩/ · noun

Meaning

Criminal neglect or wrongful execution of duty, especially by a public official; (countable) a specific instance of this..

Definitions by Sense

1. Criminal neglect or wrongful execution of duty, especially by a public official; (countable) a specific instance of this.
2. In full misprision of felony or misprision of treason: originally, a less serious form of felony or treason; later, the crime of (intentionally) failing to give information about a felony or treason that one knows about; (countable) an instance of this.
3. Misinterpretation or misunderstanding; (countable) an instance of this; a mistake.
4. Incorrect or unfair suspicion; (countable) an instance of this.
5. Despising or holding in contempt; disdain, scorn.
6. Not seeing the value in something; undervaluing.

Example Sentences

[I]f any persone were perceiued to be absent, or were sene to laughe at the folye of the emperour [Nero], he was forthe with accused, as it were, of missprision: whereby the emperour founde occasion to committe him to prison or to put hym to tortures.

Bribery is a great miſpriſion, when any man in Judiciall place takes any Fee or Penſion, Robe, or Livery, Gift, Reward, or Brocage of any perſon, that hath to do before him any way, for doing his office, or by colour of his office, but of the King only, unleſſe it be of meat and drink, and that of ſmall value, upon divers, and grievous puniſhments.

misprision of heresy

Misprisions (a term derived from the old French, meſpris, a neglect or contempt) are, in the acceptation of our law, generally underſtood to be all ſuch high offences as are under the degree of capital, but nearly bordering thereon: and it is ſaid, that a miſpriſion is contained in every treaſon and felony whatſoever; and that, if the king ſo pleaſe, the offender may be proceeded againſt for the miſpriſion only. […] Miſpriſions are generally divided into two ſorts; negative, which conſiſt in the concealment of ſomething which ought to be revealed; and poſitive, which conſiſt in the commiſſion of ſomething which ought not to be done.

The argument was a worthless one in law; for Eustace had been a prisoner before he was a guest, and Amyas was guilty of something very like misprision of treason in not handing him over to the nearest justice.

Mr Borthrop Trumbull really knew nothing about old Featherstone's will; but he could hardly have been bought to declare any ignorance unless he had been arrested for misprision of treason.

A Feuer in your blood vvhy then inciſion VVould let her out in Savvcers, ſvveete miſpriſon.^([sic])

What haſt thou done? Thou haſt miſtaken quite, And laid the loue iuice on ſome true loues ſight. Of thy miſpriſion, muſt perforce enſue Some true loue turnd, and not a falſe turnd true.

Synonyms for misprision

Antonyms for misprision

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Word Forms

• misprisions
• missprision

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