| 释义 |
▪ I. misdeˈmeanour, -or, n.1
Forms: see demeanour.
[mis-1 4.]
1. a. Evil behaviour, misconduct. Now rare.
1494Fabyan Chron. ii. clvii. 146 For the whiche mysse demeanure of this woman, that she had innaturally slayne hir lorde and husbonde [etc.]. 1561Child-Marriages (1897) 78 Whan he perceyvid this Respondent to be with child, he perceyvid her noughtie lief and misdeamenour. 1568Grafton Chron. II. 629 This great riote and vnlawfull misdemeanour. 1579Termes of Law 63 His..misdemeaner shall cause the officer..to loose his office. a1639W. Whately Prototypes ii. xxvi. (1640) 68 You..that are so wickedly gevin over to idlenesse, and drunkennesse..be ashamed of such more than beast-like misdemeanour. 1723Sheffield (Dk. Buckhm.) Wks. (1753) II. 104 A thousand slanders..will never here be able to give a suspicion of misdemeanor. 1775Johnson Tax. no Tyr. 60 The whole town of Boston is distressed for the misdemeanour of a few.
b. An instance of this; a misdeed, offence.
1494Fabyan Chron. vi. ccvi. 218 Some mysdemeanures and rules that were occupyed and exercysed in his absence. 1592Nashe Four Lett. Confut. 52 God forbid that our forheades should for euer bee blotted with our forefathers misdemeanors. 1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 78 These misdemenors against all sence and reason. 1659Pearson Creed (1839) 490 By great and scandalous offences, by incorrigible misdemeanours, we may incur the censure of the Church of God. 1709Swift Adv. Relig. Wks. 1751 IV. 129 If any apparent Transgression..would be imputed to him for a misdemeanor, by which he must certainly forfeit his..Station. a1716South Serm. (1744) IX. xii. 359 God takes a particular notice of our personal misdemeanors.
2. Law. One of a class of indictable offences which were formerly regarded as less heinous than those called felonies; high misdemeanour: see quot. 1706. (All distinctions between a felony and a misdemeanour were abolished by the Criminal Law Act of 1967.)
1487Rolls of Parlt. VI. 402/1 An Acte giving the Court of Star Chamber authority to punish divers misdemeanors. 1503–4Act 19 Hen. VII, c. 14 §8 Such reteynours and offences and other Mysdemeanours as shalbe doon..contrary to the forme of this acte. 1614Bacon Charge touching Duels 22 Practice to impoison, though it tooke no effect, way-laying to murder,..haue been adiudged haynous misdemeanors punishable in this Court. 1660Trial Regic. 113 He charged the Prisoner at the Bar with Treason and high misdemeanors. 1706Phillips (ed. Kersey), High Misdemeanour, a Crime of a hainous Nature, next to High Treason. 1769Blackstone Comm. IV. i. 5 This general definition comprehends both crimes and misdemesnors; which, properly speaking, are mere synonymous terms. Ibid. vi. 80 Words spoken amount only to a high misdemesnor, and no treason. 1807Jefferson Writ. (1830) IV. 103 The trial of Dayton for misdemeanor may as well go on at Richmond. 1807Sir S. Romilly in Hansard Parl. Deb. Ser. i. IX. 327 He conceived that if ministers should give such a pledge.., it would be a high crime and misdemeanour. 1821Holford Th. on Crim. Prisons 36 Any person convicted of any misdemeanor, except libel.
3. Short for: A person imprisoned for misdemeanour; = misdemeanant. (Cf. next word.)
App. in regular prison use till c 1820, when misdemeanant took its place.
1812‘A Prisoner’ in Examiner 7 Sept. 574/2 The acts of Parliament required him to keep the felons and misdemeanours separate. 1815Rep. Comm. K.B. (etc.) Prisons (Parl. Papers) 229 Four felons, nine misdemeanors, and one fine. Ibid. 230 The female misdemeanors I generally class with the female debtors. 1818Min. Evid. Comm. Prisons Metrop. VIII. 109 For debtors, male and female, and vagrants and misdemeanors.
attrib.1814Min. Evid. St. Gaols London (Parl. Papers) App. i. 33 There are three [prisoners] for misdemeanors in the other misdemeanor ward.
†4. Mismanagement. Obs. rare—1.
Cf. demeanour 4. But the use in the quot. was probably suggested by manure.
1644Bp. Hall Serm. Wks. 1808 V. 236 Never was there any sterility, whereof there may not be a cause given; either..some naturall fault in the soil, or misdemeanure of the owners.
▪ II. † misdeˈmeanour, n.2 Obs.
[f. misdemean v. + -our, -or2.]
A person guilty of a misdemeanour.
1533Chron. Calais (Camden) 154 If they fynde any mysdemeanours, suspect persons or straungers stirring in the strets. 1533–4Act 25 Hen. VIII, c. 3 §1 The same mysdemeanours, Felons, Robbers and burglaries [sic] have..the pryvylege..of theire clergie.
▪ III. † misdeˈmeanour, v. Obs. rare—1.
[f. misdemeanour n.1]
= misdemean v.1
1620J. Wilkinson Coroners & Sherifes 52 If any one shal refuse to enter bond or misdemeanor himselfe. |