Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Misprision \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.