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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misprision

Noun

Law the concealment of the commission of a felony or an act of treason [Old French mesprision error]

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misprision

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

See also: Crime