misprision

UK: /mɪsˈprɪʒən/ US: (mis prizh′ən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mis•pri•sion¹  (mis prizh′ən), n. 

1. Lawmaking a neglect or violation of official duty by one in office.
2. Lawmaking failure by one not an accessory to prevent or notify the authorities of treason or felony.
3. Lawmaking a contempt against the government, monarch, or courts, as sedition, lese majesty, or a contempt of court.
4. a mistake;
   misunderstanding.

• Latin prēnsiōn-, variant of prehēnsiōn- (stem of prehēnsiō) prehension
• Anglo-French, Old French mesprision, equivalent. to mes- mis-¹ + prision
• late Middle English 1375–1425

mis•pri•sion²  (mis prizh′ən), n. 

1. contempt or scorn.

• misprise + -ion 1580–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

misprision / mɪsˈprɪʒən/ noun

1. a failure to inform the proper authorities of the commission of an act of treason
2. the deliberate concealment of the commission of a felony

Etymology: 15th Century: via Anglo-French from Old French mesprision error, from mesprendre to mistake, from mes- mis-¹ + prendre to take

misprision / mɪsˈprɪʒən/ noun

1. contempt
2. failure to appreciate the value of something

Etymology: 16th Century: from misprize