MISPRISION

Mis‐pri″sion (?), n. [[LL. misprisio, or OF. mesprison, prop., a mistaking, but confused with OF. mespris contempt, F. mépris. See 2d Misprise, Misprize, Prison.]] 1. 1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake. Fuller.
The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion. Hare. 2. 2. Neglect; undervaluing; contempt. Shak.
3. 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.