| n. | 1. | Ill behavior; evil conduct; fault. |
| 2. | (Law) A crime less than a felony. |
| Noun | 1. | misdemeanor - a crime less serious than a felony |
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.
2. 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.
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