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.
3. a contempt against the government, monarch, or courts, as sedition, lese majesty, or a contempt of court.
4. a mistake; misunderstanding.

misprision

²

[ mis-prizh-uhn ]

noun

1. contempt or scorn.

misprision

¹

/ mɪsˈprɪʒən /

noun

1. 1. a failure to inform the proper authorities of the commission of an act of treason
   2. the deliberate concealment of the commission of a felony

misprision

²

/ mɪsˈprɪʒən /

noun

1. contempt
2. failure to appreciate the value of something

Word History and Origins

Origin of misprision¹

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

Origin of misprision²

First recorded in 1580–90; misprise + -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of misprision¹

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

Origin of misprision²

C16: from misprize

Example Sentences

District Judge George Wu he was guilty of a rarely filed charge of “misprision of a felony.”

From Los Angeles Times

A charge of actively hiding a felony, or misprision, could also apply to many of the corporate chiefs who send bitcoin to overseas hackers without telling anyone else what happened.

From Washington Post

The jury found Mr. Sullivan guilty on one count of obstructing the F.T.C.’s investigation and one count of misprision, or acting to conceal a felony from authorities.

From New York Times

The Justice Department charged Mr. Sullivan with obstruction of justice, misprision of a felony and wire fraud relating to the 2016 breach.

From Washington Times

Delivered by Justice Alito, the Opinion of the Supreme Court on Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization refers to "Sir Edward Coke's 17th-century treatise" in which he "asserted that abortion of a quick child was 'murder' if the 'childe be born alive' and a 'great misprision' if the 'childe dieth in her body'."

From BBC