misprision

noun

1. (historical, uncountable)Criminal neglect or wrongful execution of duty, especially by a public official; (countable) a specific instance of this.

   “[I]f any persone were perceiued to be absent, or were sene to laughe at the folye of the emperour [Nero], he was forthe with accused, as it were, of missprision: whereby the emperour founde occasion to committe him to prison or to put hym to tortures.”

   “Bribery is a great miſpriſion, when any man in Judiciall place takes any Fee or Penſion, Robe, or Livery, Gift, Reward, or Brocage of any perſon, that hath to do before him any way, for doing his office, or by colour of his office, but of the King only, unleſſe it be of meat and drink, and that of ſmall value, upon divers, and grievous puniſhments.”

2. (historical, uncountable)In full misprision of felony or misprision of treason: originally, a less serious form of felony or treason; later, the crime of (intentionally) failing to give information about a felony or treason that one knows about; (countable) an instance of this.

   “misprision of heresy”

   “The argument was a worthless one in law; for Eustace had been a prisoner before he was a guest, and Amyas was guilty of something very like misprision of treason in not handing him over to the nearest justice.”

   “Mr Borthrop Trumbull really knew nothing about old Featherstone's will; but he could hardly have been bought to declare any ignorance unless he had been arrested for misprision of treason.”

3. (broadly, uncountable)Misinterpretation or misunderstanding; (countable) an instance of this; a mistake.

   “A Feuer in your blood vvhy then inciſion VVould let her out in Savvcers, ſvveete miſpriſon.^([sic])”

   “What haſt thou done? Thou haſt miſtaken quite, And laid the loue iuice on ſome true loues ſight. Of thy miſpriſion, muſt perforce enſue Some true loue turnd, and not a falſe turnd true.”

   “[T]hey [women] have what men call self-belief and blame you for your misprisions in their dreams, they are conspiracy theorists, benevolent dictators […]”

4. (broadly, uncountable)Incorrect or unfair suspicion; (countable) an instance of this.
5. (uncountable)Despising or holding in contempt; disdain, scorn.

   “Heere, take her hand, / Proud ſcornful boy, vnworthie this good gift, / That doſt in vile miſpriſion ſhackle vp / My loue, and her deſert: […]”

   “[Y]ou may be one of those unhappy persons, whose dim eyes being unable to penetrate the starry spheres, and to discern therein the decrees of heaven at a distance, have their hearts barred against conviction by prejudice and misprision.”

   “The boy was grievously distressed by the loss [of a book]; it seemed an insult to Ruth Hailey, and a misprision of her kindly wishes.”

   “What if I love you!—This misery / Of your dissatisfaction and misprision / Stupefies me.”

6. (uncountable)Not seeing the value in something; undervaluing.