Misprision of treason

Misprision of treason
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 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 of treason — Knowledge of treason and concealment thereof • • • Main Entry: ↑treason …   Useful english dictionary

  • misprision of treason — the crime of failing to inform the authorities where the accused knows or has reasonable cause to believe that another has committed treason. Collins dictionary of law. W. J. Stewart. 2001 …   Law dictionary

  • Misprision — (from Old French: mesprendre, modern French: meprendre, to misunderstand ) is a term of English law used to describe certain kinds of offence. Writers on criminal law usually divide misprision into two kinds, negative or positive. It survives in… …   Wikipedia

  • 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 — 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

  • 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • misprision — (n.) wrong action, a failure on the part of authority, early 15c., from Anglo Fr. mesprisioun mistake, error, wrong action or speech, from O.Fr. mesprision mistake, wrongdoing, fault, blame, crime, from mespris, pp. of mesprendre to mistake, act… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Treason Act 1708 — The Treason Act 1708 (7 Ann c. 21) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which harmonised the law of high treason between the former kingdoms of England and Scotland following their union as Great Britain in 1707. It came into effect… …   Wikipedia

  • Treason — In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one s sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife (treason… …   Wikipedia

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