misdeem, misdeme

t. & i. [Prefix mis-, and Eng. deem (q. v.); Icel. misdæma. ] A. Trans.: Τo judge wrongly; to misjudge. "[He] saw his friends misdeem'd in crowds resort, To bask beneath the sunshine of the Court." Lewis : Statius ; Thebaid ii. B. In trans.: To misjudge, to mistake, to misconceive. "Misdeem not, then, If such affront I labor to avert From thee alone." Milton: P. L., ix. 301. mis-de-mean', *mis-de-meane, v. t. [Prefix mis-, and English demean (q. v.).] To misconduct. (Used reflexively.) "From frailty And want of wisdom, you, that best should teach us, Have misdemean'd yourself." Shakesp.: Henry VIII ., v. 3. mis-de-mean-ant, s. [Eng. misdemean ; -ant.] One who commits a misdemeanor. mis-de-mean-õr, mis-de-mean-our, s . [Pref. mis-, and Eng. demeanor (q. v.).] *I. Ordinary Language : 1. Misbehavior, misconduct; an offense or crime; a misdeed. "God takes a particular notice of our personal misde meanors."- South: Sermons, vol. ix., ser. 12. 2. Mismanagement, mistreatment. II. Law : An offense against the laws of a le heinous nature than a crime. Smaller faults are comprised under the gentler name of "misdemeanors" only, and are so designated in contra dist i net i on to felonies, the former cla comprehending all indictable offenses which do not fall within the other, such as a aults, nuisances, non-repair of a highway, and the like. ( Black stone : Comment., bk. iv., ch. 1.) *mis-dě part', v . t . [Pref. mis- , and Eng. depart q. v.).] To share or divide wrongly or unfairly. "Thou blamest Crist and sayst ful bitterly He mis depart eth riche e temporal." Chaucer: C. Т. , 4,527. *mís-dě-rive', v . t . [Pref. mis- , and Eng. derive (q. v.).] 1. To derive wrongly; as, to misderive a word. 2. To divert into a wrong channel; to misdirect. "Mis deriving the well-meant devotions of charitable and pious souls into a wrong channel." -Bishop Hall: Cases of Conscience, dec. 3, case case 7. mis-dě-scribe' v. t . [Pref. mis-, and English describe (q. v.).] To describe wrongly or falsely. *mis-dě-şert', s. [Pref. mis- , and Eng. desert, s. (q. v.)] Ill-desert. IMG:content-1259.png:[blocks in formation] Spenser: F. Q., VI. i. 12. mis-de-võtion, s. [Pref. mis- , and Eng. devo tion (q. v.).] Mistaken piety; misplaced devotion. "We cry out sacrilege and misdevotion against those who in zeal have demolish'd the dens and cages of her unclean wallowings."- An Apology for Smectymnuus.