Word of the Day #2

misprision

\Mis*pri"sion\, n. [LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. m['e]pris. See 2d Misprise, Misprize, Prison.] 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.

Note: 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.'' --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.