Misprision of felony

Misprision of felony
Misprision Mis*pri"sion, n. [LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. m['e]pris. See 2d {Misprise}, {Misprize}, {Prison}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake. [Archaic] --Fuller. [1913 Webster]

The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion. --Hare. [1913 Webster]

2. Neglect; undervaluing; contempt. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. (Law) A neglect, negligence, or contempt. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • misprision of felony or treason — The common law offense of failure to inform the authorities as to a treason or felony that one has witnessed or that has come to his knowledge; the failure to prevent a felony from being committed. 21 Am J2d Crim L § 7. The federal offense of… …   Ballentine's law dictionary

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  • misprision — mis·pri·sion /mis pri zhən/ n [Anglo French, error, wrongdoing, from Old French, from mesprendre to make a mistake, from mes wrongly + prendre to take, from Latin prehendere to seize] 1: neglectful or wrongful performance of an official duty 2: a …   Law dictionary

  • Misprision of treason — is an offence found in many common law jurisdictions around the world, having been inherited from English law. It is committed by someone who knows a treason is being or is about to be committed but does not report it to a proper authority. It is …   Wikipedia

  • Misprision — Mis*pri sion, n. [LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. m[ e]pris. See 2d {Misprise}, {Misprize}, {Prison}.] [1913 Webster] 1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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