misprision

n. [ LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. mépris. 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 ]

☞ 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 ]