Middle English Dictionary Entry
misprisiọ̄n n.
Entry Info
| Forms | misprisiọ̄n n. Also -presion, -precion & mesprision, -prisoun. |
| Etymology | AF misprision, mes-; cp. CF mesprison. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Law An offense or illegal act, esp. on the part of a public official.
Associated quotations
- (1425) RParl.4.306b : Ye Justice of ye Peas..may have power to enquerre of suche misprisions and defautes of ye said Sherefs.
- (1438) Will Norwich in Nrf.Archaeol.4328 : All myn owen dettes, legates, mispresyons, extorcyons, don be me never mow not bene rered of myn owen godes..for to pay.
- (1442) RParl.5.60a : It is to be remembred, how in tyme passid awners of divers Shippes, that have, be commaundement of the Kynges Counseill, sent their Shippes to the See, and they nought sette in their Shippes Maisters ne Maryners, for their mesprision on the See were putte in grete trouble and disease.
- (1447) Oath Bk.Colchester185 : All manere felonies, trespasses, mesprisouns, and extorciouns.
- (1450) RParl.5.182a : Off all which offenses, mesprisions, untrue labours and fals deceytes..We your seid Commens accuse and empeche the seid Duke of Suff'.
- (1450) RParl.5.213a : If the seid Shirref, serve not and duely execute and retourne all the seid Writtes of execution..thenne the seid Shirref forfait and pay to you for every defaute and mysprision of the seid premisses, cc li. of lawfull money.
- (1475) RParl.6.127b : For the which offenses, mysprecions and inordinate demeanynges, aswell all the Maners..withoute your speciall grace had been forfait and lost.
- a1500 Chartier Treat.Hope (Rwl A.338)54/34 : Neuirthelesse..ye make therof a violent bruyte and mesprision to Almighty God, redy to breke the lawe for delyte of pryve raveyne, to the grette trouble of subiectis.