misprision English · revision 1106

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌmɪsˈpɹɪʒn̩/ ''(UK)''; /ˌmɪsˈpɹɪʒ(ə)n/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|xno|misprision]], ''mesprisioun'' “mistake, wrongdoing”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from Old French ''mespris'', the past participle of ''mesprendre'' “to make a mistake, act wrongly”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from ''mes-'' “wrongly” and ''prendre'' “to take”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) [[der|la|prehendo|t=to seize]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) ''Misprision'' “contempt” is a separate word, from [[misprize]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In law, a wrong action or failure of duty, especially by a public official (1425).^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the phrases ''misprision of treason'' and ''misprision of felony'' (1533–4) the word first meant an offence of a lesser degree than treason or felony;^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) because this included knowing of a plot without reporting it, legal writers came to suppose the word meant “failure to denounce”.^(Etymonline) It also meant a mistake or misunderstanding (1588),^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) now archaic.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1425 – a wrong action or failure of duty.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1442 – wrongful capture (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533–4 – ''misprision of treason''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1586 – contempt (separate word).^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1588 – a mistake or misunderstanding.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Neglect or wrong performance of official duty by a public official.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Concealment of, or failure to report, a [[treason]] or [[felony]] by one who is not an [[accessory]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Seditious conduct or contempt against the government or the courts.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A misunderstanding or misinterpretation.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Contempt or scorn; failure to appreciate something's value.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[misprize]]

+ * [[comprehend]]

+ * [[apprehend]]

+ * [[prison]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}