misprision

1
[ mis-prizh-uhn ]

noun
  1. a neglect or violation of official duty by one in office.

  2. failure by one not an accessory to prevent or notify the authorities of treason or felony.

  1. a contempt against the government, monarch, or courts, as sedition, lese majesty, or a contempt of court.

  2. a mistake; misunderstanding.

Origin of misprision

1
1375–1425; late Middle English <Anglo-French, Old French mesprision, equivalent to mes-mis-1 + prision<Latin prēnsiōn-, variant of prehēnsiōn- (stem of prehēnsiō) prehension

Words Nearby misprision

Other definitions for misprision (2 of 2)

misprision2
[ mis-prizh-uhn ]

noun
  1. contempt or scorn.

Origin of misprision

2
First recorded in 1580–90; misprise + -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use misprision in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for misprision (1 of 2)

misprision1

/ (mɪsˈprɪʒən) /


noun
    • a failure to inform the proper authorities of the commission of an act of treason

    • the deliberate concealment of the commission of a felony

Origin of misprision

1
C15: via Anglo-French from Old French mesprision error, from mesprendre to mistake, from mes- mis- 1 + prendre to take

British Dictionary definitions for misprision (2 of 2)

misprision2

/ (mɪsˈprɪʒən) /


nounarchaic
  1. contempt

  2. failure to appreciate the value of something

Origin of misprision

2
C16: from misprize

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012