Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter M - Page 54
Misdemean (v. t.) To behave ill; -- with a reflexive pronoun; as, to misdemean one's self.
Misdemean (v.) Behave badly; "The children misbehaved all morning" [syn: misbehave, misconduct, misdemean] [ant: behave, comport].
Misdemeanant (n.) One guilty of a misdemeanor. -- Sydney Smith.
Misdemeanor (n.) Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault. -- Shak.
Misdemeanor (n.) (Law) A crime less than a felony. -- Wharton.
Note: As a rule, in the old English law, offenses capitally punishable were felonies; all other indictable offenses were misdemeanors. In common usage, the word crime is employed to denote the offenses of a deeper and more atrocious dye, while small faults and omissions of less consequence are comprised under the gentler name of misdemeanors. -- Blackstone.
The distinction, however, between felonies and misdemeanors is purely arbitrary, and is in most jurisdictions either abrogated or so far reduced as to be without practical value. Cf. Felony. -- Wharton.
Syn: Misdeed; misconduct; misbehavior; fault; trespass; transgression.
Misdemeanor (n.) A crime less serious than a felony [syn: misdemeanor, misdemeanour, infraction, violation, infringement].
Misdemeanor, () crim. law. This term is used to express every offence inferior to felony, punishable by indictment, or by particular prescribed proceedings; in its usual acceptation, it is applied to all those crimes and offences for which the law has not provided a particular name; this word is generally used in contradistinction to felony; misdemeanors comprehending all indictable offences, which do not amount to felony, as perjury, battery, libels, conspiracies and public nuisances.
Misdemeanor (n.) Misdemeanors have sometimes been called misprisions. (q.v.) Burn's Just. tit. Misdemeanor; 4 Bl. Com. 5, n. 2; 2 Bar. & Adolph. 75: 1 Russell, 43; 1 Chitty, Pr. 14; 3 Vern. 347; 2 Hill, S. C. 674; Addis. 21; 3 Pick. 26; 1 Greenl. 226; 2 P. A. Browne, 249; 9 Pick. 1; 1 S. & R. 342; 6 Call. 245; 4 Wend. 229; 2 Stew. & Port. 379. And see 4 Wend. 229, 265; 12 Pick. 496; 3 Mass. 254; 5 Mass. 106. See Offence.
Misdemeanor (n.) An infraction of the law having less dignity than a felony and constituting no claim to admittance into the best criminal society.
By misdemeanors he essays to climb Into the aristocracy of crime.
O, woe was him! -- with manner chill and grand "Captains of industry" refused his hand, "Kings of finance" denied him recognition And "railway magnates" jeered his low condition.
He robbed a bank to make himself respected.
They still rebuffed him, for he was detected.
S.V. Hanipur
Misdempt () obs. p. p. of Misdeem. -- Spenser.
Misdepart (v. t.) To distribute wrongly. [Obs.]
He misdeparteth riches temporal. -- Chaucer.
Misderive (v. t.) To turn or divert improperly; to misdirect. [Obs.] -- Bp. Hall.
Misderive (v. t.) To derive erroneously.
Misdescribe (v. t.) To describe wrongly.
Misdesert (n.) Ill desert. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Misdevotion (n.) Mistaken devotion.
Misdiet (n.) Improper diet. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Misdiet (v. t.) To diet improperly.
Misdight (a.) Arrayed, prepared, or furnished, unsuitably. [Archaic] -- Bp. Hall.
Misdirect (v. t.) To give a wrong direction to; as, to misdirect a passenger, or a letter; to misdirect one's energies. -- Shenstone.
Misdirect (v.) Corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; "debauch the young people with wine and women"; "Socrates was accused of corrupting young men"; "Do school counselors subvert young children?"; "corrupt the morals" [syn: corrupt, pervert, subvert, demoralize, demoralise, debauch, debase, profane, vitiate, deprave, misdirect].
Misdirect (v.) Lead someone in the wrong direction or give someone wrong directions; "The pedestrian misdirected the out-of-town driver" [syn: mislead, misdirect, misguide, lead astray].
Misdirect (v.) Put a wrong address on; "misdirect the letter" [syn: misdirect, misaddress].
Misdirection (n.) The act of directing wrongly, or the state of being so directed.
Misdirection (n.) (Law) An error of a judge in charging the jury on a matter of law. -- Mozley & W.
Misdirection (n.) The direction of another's attention to an unimportant place or matter, for the purpose of being able to perform an action undetected; as, misdirection is an important part of a magician's art.
Misdirection (n.) An incorrect charge to a jury given by a judge.
Misdirection (n.) Incorrect directions or instructions.
Misdirection (n.) Management that is careless or inefficient; "he accomplished little due to the mismanagement of his energies" [syn: mismanagement, misdirection].
Misdirection (n.) The act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something; "conjurers are experts at misdirection" [syn: distraction, misdirection].
Misdirection, () practice. An error made by a judge in charging the jury in a special case.
Misdirection, () Such misdirection is either in relation to matters of law or matters of fact.
Misdirection, () When the judge at the trial misdirects the jury, on matters of law, material to the issue, whatever may be the nature of the case, the verdict will be set aside, and a new trial granted; 6 Mod. 242; 2 Salk. 649; 2 Wils. 269; or if such misdirection appear in the bill of exceptions or otherwise upon the record, a judgment founded on a verdict thus obtained, will be reversed. When the issue consists of a mixed question of law and fact and there is a conceded state of facts, the rest is a question for the court; 2 Wend. R. 596; and a misdirection in this respect will avoid the verdict.
Misdirection, () Misdirection as to matters of fact will in some cases be sufficient to vitiate the proceedings. If, for example, the judge should undertake to dictate to the jury. When the, judge delivers, his opinion to the jury on a matter of fact, it should be delivered as mere opinion, and not as direction. 12 John. R. 513. But the judge is in general allowed to very liberal discretion in charging a jury on matters of fact. 1 McCl. & Y. 286.
Misdirection, () As to its effects, misdirection must be calculated to do injustice; for if justice has been done, and a new trial would produce the same result, a new trial will not be granted on that account, 2 Salk. 644, 646; 2 T. R. 4; 1 B. & P. 338; 5 Mass. R. 1; 7 Greenl. R. 442; 2 Pick. R. 310; 4 Day's R. 42; 5 Day's R. 329; 3 John. R. 528; 2 Penna. R. 325.
Misdisposition (n.) Erroneous disposal or application. -- Bp. Hall.
Misdistinguish (v. t.) To make wrong distinctions in or concerning. -- Hooker.
Misdivide (v. t.) To divide wrongly.
Misdivision (n.) Wrong division.
Misdid (imp.) of Misdo.
Misdone (p. p.) of Misdo.
Misdoing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Misdo.
Misdo (v. t.) To do wrongly.
Afford me place to show what recompense Towards thee I intend for what I have misdone. -- Milton.
Misdo (v. t.) To do wrong to; to illtreat. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Misdo (v. i.) To do wrong; to commit a fault.
I have misdone, and I endure the smart. -- Dryden.
Misdo (v.) Do wrongly or improperly; "misdo one's job."
Misdoer (n.) A wrongdoer. -- Spenser.
Misdoing (n.) A wrong done; a fault or crime; an offense; as, it was my misdoing.
Misdoubt (v. t. & i.) To be suspicious of; to have suspicion. [Obs.]
I do not misdoubt my wife. -- Shak.
Misdoubt (n.) Suspicion. [Obs.]
Misdoubt (n.) Irresolution; hesitation. [Obs.] -- Shak.
Misdoubtful (a.) Misgiving; hesitating. [Obs.] "Her misdoubtful mind." -- Spenser.
Misdread (n.) Dread of evil. [Obs.]
Mise (n.) (Law) The issue in a writ of right.
Mise (n.) Expense; cost; disbursement. [Obs.]
Mise (n.) A tax or tallage; in Wales, an honorary gift of the people to a new king or prince of Wales; also, a tribute paid, in the country palatine of Chester, England, at the change of the owner of the earldom. [Obs.]
MISE, English law. In a writ of right which is intended to be tried by the grand assize, the general issue is called the mise. Lawes, Civ. Pl. 111; 7 Cowen, 51. This word also signifies expenses, and it is so commonly used in the entries of judgments in personal actions; as when the plaintiff recovers, the judgment is quod recuperet damna sua for such value, and pro mises et custagiis for costs and charges for so much, &c.
Misease (n.) Want of ease; discomfort; misery. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Miseased (a.) Having discomfort or misery; troubled. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Miseasy (a.) Not easy; painful. [Obs.]
Misedition (n.) An incorrect or spurious edition. [Obs.] -- Bp. Hall.
Miseducate (v. t.) To educate in a wrong manner.
Misemploy (v. t.) To employ amiss; as, to misemploy time, advantages, talents, etc.
Their frugal father's gains they misemploy. -- Dryden.
Misemployment (n.) Wrong or mistaken employment. -- Johnson.
Misenter (v. t.) To enter or insert wrongly, as a charge in an account.
Misentreat (v. t.) To treat wrongfully. [Obs.] -- Grafton.
Misentry (n.) An erroneous entry or charge, as of an account.
Miser (n.) A wretched person; a person afflicted by any great misfortune. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
The woeful words of a miser now despairing. -- Sir P. Sidney.
Miser (n.) A despicable person; a wretch. [Obs.] -- Shak.
Miser (n.) A covetous, grasping, mean person; esp., one having wealth, who lives miserably for the sake of saving and increasing his hoard.
As some lone miser, visiting his store, Bends at his treasure, counts, recounts it o'er. -- Goldsmith.
Miser (n.) A stingy person; one very reluctant to spend money.
Miser (n.) A kind of large earth auger. -- Knight.
Miser (n.) A stingy hoarder of money and possessions (often living miserably).
Miserable (a.) Very unhappy; wretched ; living in misery.
What hopes delude thee, miserable man? -- Dryden.
Miserable (a.) Causing unhappiness or misery.
What 's more miserable than discontent? -- Shak.
Miserable (a.) Worthless; mean; despicable; as, a miserable fellow; a miserable dinner.
Miserable comforters are ye all. -- Job xvi. 2.
Miserable (a.) Avaricious; niggardly; miserly. [Obs.] -- Hooker.
Syn: Abject; forlorn; pitiable; wretched.
Miserable (n.) A miserable person. [Obs.] -- Sterne.
Miserable (a.) Very unhappy; full of misery; "he felt depressed and miserable"; "a message of hope for suffering humanity"; "wretched prisoners huddled in stinking cages" [syn: miserable, suffering, wretched].
Miserable (a.) Deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life" [syn: hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretched].
Miserable (a.) Of the most contemptible kind; "abject cowardice"; "a low stunt to pull"; "a low-down sneak"; "his miserable treatment of his family"; "You miserable skunk!"; "a scummy rabble"; "a scurvy trick" [syn: abject, low, low-down, miserable, scummy, scurvy].
Miserable (a.) Of very poor quality or condition; "deplorable housing conditions in the inner city"; "woeful treatment of the accused"; "woeful errors of judgment" [syn: deplorable, execrable, miserable, woeful, wretched].
Miserable (a.) Characterized by physical misery; "a wet miserable weekend"; "spent a wretched night on the floor" [syn: miserable, wretched].
Miserable (a.) Contemptibly small in amount; "a measly tip"; "the company donated a miserable $100 for flood relief"; "a paltry wage"; "almost depleted his miserable store of dried beans" [syn: measly, miserable, paltry].
Miserableness (n.) The state or quality of being miserable.
Miserableness (n.) A state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune; "the misery and wretchedness of those slums is intolerable" [syn: misery, wretchedness, miserableness].
Miserably (adv.) In a miserable; unhappily; calamitously; wretchedly; meanly.
They were miserably entertained. -- Sir P. Sidney.
The fifth was miserably stabbed to death. -- South.
Miserably (adv.) In a miserable manner; "I bit my lip miserably and nodded."
Miseration (n.) Commiseration. [Obs.]
Miserere (n.) (R. C. Ch.) The psalm usually appointed for penitential acts, being the 50th psalm in the Latin version. It commences with the word miserere.
Miserere (n.) A musical composition adapted to the 50th psalm.
Where only the wind signs miserere. -- Lowell.
Miserere (n.) (Arch.) A small projecting boss or bracket, on the under side of the hinged seat of a church stall (see Stall). It was intended, the seat being turned up, to give some support to a worshiper when standing. Called also misericordia.
Miserere (n.) (Med.) Same as Ileus.
Misericorde (n.) Compassion; pity; mercy. [Obs.]
Misericorde (n.) (Anc. Armor.) Same as Misericordia, 2.
Misericorde, (n.) A dagger which in mediaeval warfare was used by the foot soldier to remind an unhorsed knight that he was mortal.
Misericordia (n.) (O. Law) An amercement. -- Burrill.
Misericordia (n.) (Anc. Armor.) A thin-bladed dagger; so called, in the Middle Ages, because used to give the death wound or "mercy" stroke to a fallen adversary.
Misericordia (n.) (Eccl.) An indulgence as to food or dress granted to a member of a religious order. --Shipley.
Misericordia, () mercy. An arbitrary or discretionary amercement.
Misericordia (n.) To be in mercy, is to be liable to such punishment as the judge may in his discretion inflict. According to Spelman, misericordia is so called, because the party is in mercy, and to distinguish this fine from redemptions, or heavy fines. Spelm. GI. ad voc.; see Co. Litt. 126 b, and Madox's Excheq. c. 14. See Judgment of Misericordia.
Miserly (a.) Like a miser; very covetous; sordid; niggardly.
Syn: Avaricious; niggardly; sordid; parsimonious; avaricious; penurious; covetous; stingy; mean. See Avaricious.
Miserly (a.) (Used of persons or behavior) characterized by or indicative of lack of generosity; "a mean person"; "he left a miserly tip" [syn: mean, mingy, miserly, tight].
Miseries (n. pl. ) of Misery.
Misery (n.) 痛苦；不幸；悲慘；窮困；苦難 [U] [C]；【英】【口】討厭的人，老發牢騷的人 [C] Great unhappiness; extreme pain of body or mind; wretchedness; distress; woe. -- Chaucer.
Destruction and misery are in their ways. -- Rom. iii. 16.
Misery (n.) Cause of misery; calamity; misfortune.
When we our betters see bearing our woes, We scarcely think our miseries our foes. -- Shak.
Misery (n.) Covetousness; niggardliness; avarice. [Obs.]
Syn: Wretchedness; torture; agony; torment; anguish; distress; calamity; misfortune.
Misery (n.) A state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune; "the misery and wretchedness of those slums is intolerable" [syn: misery, wretchedness, miserableness].
Misery (n.) A feeling of intense unhappiness; "she was exhausted by her misery and grief".
Misesteem (n.) Want of esteem; disrespect. -- Johnson.
Misestimate (v. t.) To estimate erroneously. -- J. S. Mill.
Misestimate (v.) Judge incorrectly; "I had misestimated his determination" [syn: miscalculate, misestimate].
Misestimate (v.) Calculate incorrectly; "I miscalculated the number of guests at the wedding" [syn: miscalculate, misestimate].
Misexplanation (n.) An erroneous explanation.
Misexplication (n.) Wrong explication.
Misexposition (n.) Wrong exposition.
Misexpound (v. t.) To expound erroneously.
Misexpression (n.) Wrong expression.
Misfaith (n.) Want of faith; distrust. "[Anger] born of your misfaith." -- Tennyson.
Misfell (imp.) of Misfall.
Misfallen (p. p.) of Misfall.
Misfalling (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Misfall.
Misfall (v. t.) To befall, as ill luck; to happen to unluckily. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Misfare (v. i.) To fare ill. [Obs.] -- n. Misfortune. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Misfare (n.) Misfortune.
Misfashion (v. t.) To form wrongly.
Misfeasance (n.) (Law) A trespass; a wrong done; the improper doing of an act which a person might lawfully do. -- Bouvier. -- Wharton.
Misfeasance (n.) Doing a proper act in a wrongful or injurious manner.
Misfeasance, () torts, contracts. The performance of an act which might lawfully be done, in an improper manner, by which another person receives an injury. It differs from malfeasance, (q.v.) or, nonfeasance (q.v.) Vide, generally, 2 Vin. Ab. 35; 2 Kent, Com. 443; Doct. Pl. 62; Story, Bail. Sec. 9.
Misfeasance, () It seems to be settled that there is a distinction between misfeasance and nonfeasance in the case of mandates. In cases of nonfeasance, the mandatary is not generally liable, because his undertaking being gratuitous, there is no consideration to support it; but in cases of misfeasance, the common law gives a remedy for the injury done, and to the extent of that injury. 5 T. R. 143; 4 John. Rep. 84; Story, Bailment, Sec. 165; 2 Ld. Raym. 909, 919, 920; 2 Johns. Cas. 92; Doct. & Stu. 210; 1 Esp. R. 74; 1 Russ. Cr. 140; Bouv. Inst. Index h.t.
Misfeature (n.) Ill feature. [R.] -- Keats.
Misfeature (n.) [common] A feature that eventually causes lossage, possibly because it is not adequate for a new situation that has evolved. Since it results from a deliberate and properly implemented feature, a misfeature is not a bug. Nor is it a simple unforeseen side effect; the term implies that the feature in question was carefully planned, but its long-term consequences were not accurately or adequately predicted (which is quite different from not having thought ahead at all). A misfeature can be a particularly stubborn problem to resolve, because fixing it usually involves a substantial philosophical change to the structure of the system involved.
Many misfeatures (especially in user-interface design) arise because the designers/implementors mistake their personal tastes for laws of nature. Often a former feature becomes a misfeature because trade-offs were made whose parameters subsequently change (possibly only in the judgment of the implementors). ?Well, yeah, it is kind of a misfeature that file names are limited to six characters, but the original implementors wanted to save directory space and we're stuck with it for now.?
Misfeature, () A feature that eventually causes lossage, possibly because it is not adequate for a new situation that has evolved. Since it results from a deliberate and properly implemented feature, a misfeature is not a bug. Nor is it a simple unforeseen side effect; the term implies that the feature in question was carefully planned, but its long-term consequences were not accurately or adequately predicted (which is quite different from not having thought ahead at all). A misfeature can be a particularly stubborn problem to resolve, because fixing it usually involves a substantial philosophical change to the structure of the system involved.
Many misfeatures (especially in user-interface design) arise because the designers/implementors mistake their personal tastes for laws of nature. Often a former feature becomes a misfeature because trade-offs were made whose parameters subsequently change (possibly only in the judgment of the implementors). "Well, yeah, it is kind of a misfeature that file names are limited to six characters, but the original implementors wanted to save directory space and we"re stuck with it for now."
Misfeeling (a.) Insensate. [Obs.] -- Wyclif.
Misfeign (v. i.) To feign with an evil design. [Obs.] -- Spenser.
Misfit (n.) The act or the state of fitting badly; as, a misfit in making a coat; a ludicrous misfit.
Misfit (n.) Something that fits badly, as a garment.
I saw an uneasy change in Mr. Micawber, which sat tightly on him, as if his new duties were a misfit. -- Dickens.
Misfit (n.) A person who does not fit in comfortably with the surrounding situation or society; one who cannot conform or adjust to the circumstances in which he lives.
Misfit (n.) Someone unable to adapt to their circumstances.
Misformed (imp. & p. p.) of Misform.
Misforming (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Misform.
Misform (v. t.) To make in an ill form. -- Spenser.
Misformation (n.) Malformation.
Misfortunate (a.) Producing misfortune. [Obs.]
Misfortunate (a.) Deserving or inciting pity; "a hapless victim"; "miserable victims of war"; "the shabby room struck her as extraordinarily pathetic"- Galsworthy; "piteous appeals for help"; "pitiable homeless children"; "a pitiful fate"; "Oh, you poor thing"; "his poor distorted limbs"; "a wretched life" [syn: hapless, miserable, misfortunate, pathetic, piteous, pitiable, pitiful, poor, wretched].
Misfortune (n.) 不幸；惡運 [U]；不幸的事；災難 [C] Bad fortune or luck; calamity; an evil accident; disaster; mishap; mischance.
Consider why the change was wrought, You 'll find his misfortune, not his fault. -- Addison.
Syn: Calamity; mishap; mischance; misadventure; ill; harm; disaster. See Calamity.