misprision

mis·pri·sion ¹  (ms-przhn)

n.

1. Maladministration of public office.

2. Neglect in preventing or reporting a felony or treason by one not an accessory.

3. An act of sedition against a government or the courts.

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[Middle English, from Anglo-Norman, variant of Old French mesprison, from mespris, past participle of mesprendre, to make a mistake : mes-, wrongly; see mis-¹ + prendre, to take, seize (from Latin prehendere, prndere; see ghend- in Indo-European roots).]

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mis·pri·sion ²  (ms-przhn)

n.

Contempt; disdain.

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[mispris(e) (variant of misprize) + -ion.]

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misprision¹

n

(Law)

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

b.  the deliberate concealment of the commission of a felony

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

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misprision²

n Archaic

1. (Law) contempt

2. failure to appreciate the value of something

[from misprize]

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misprision

improper conduct or neglectful behavior, especially by a person who holds public office.

See also: Crime