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misprision

1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake. The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion. (hare)

2. Neglect; undervaluing; contempt.

3. 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. Misprision of treason, which is omission to notify the authorities of an act of treason by a person cognizant thereof. 2. Misprision of felony, which is a concealment of a felony by a person cognizant thereof.

Origin: LL. Misprisio, or OF. Mesprison, prop, a mistaking, but confused with OF. Mespris contempt, F. Mepris. See Misprise, Misprize, Prison.