\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}.]
1. The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception;
   mistake. [Archaic] --Fuller.
         The misprision of this passage has aided in
         fostering the delusive notion.        --Hare.
2. Neglect; undervaluing; contempt. [Obs.] --Shak.
3. (Law) A neglect, negligence, or contempt.
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.