1.The act of misprising; misapprehension; misconception; mistake. (Archaic) "The misprision of this passage has aided in fostering the delusive notion."
2.Neglect; undervaluing; contempt. (Obs.)
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." 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. 2. Misprision of felony, which is a concealment of a felony by a person cognizant thereof.