Mis*pri"sion (?), n. [LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. m'epris. See 2d Misprise, Misprize, Prison.]
1.
The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake.
[Archaic]
Fuller.
The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion.
Hare.
2.
Neglect; undervaluing; contempt.
[Obs.]
Shak.
3. Law
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."
Russell.
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. Stephen. 2. Misprision of felony, which is a concealment of a felony by a person cognizant thereof.
Stephen.
© Webster 1913.