misdoer Now rare.
(mɪsˈduːə(r))
[mis-1 5.]
A wrong-doer, evil-doer, offender, malefactor.
| c 1320 R. Brunne Medit. 503 Nat onely a mysdoer now he ys holde, But as a lewed fole he ys eke tolde. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) I. 115 Whan þeues and mysdoeres were þere byheded, þe hedes were i-left þere. 1433 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 422/1 Pilours Robbours or eny other open mysdoers. 1495 Act 11 Hen. VII, c. 2 If eny persone or persones geve eny other mete or drinke to the seid mysdoers being in stokkes..or the same prisoners favour in their mysdoyng. 1535 Coverdale Luke xxiii. 39 And one of the myszdoers that hanged there blasphemed him. 1596 Spenser State Irel. (Globe) 610/1 Feare of law, which restrayneth offences, and inflicteth sharpe punishment to misdoeres. a 1670 Spalding Troub. Chas. I (Spalding Club) I. 50 To summond thir misdoeris at the marcat crossis of Aberdein..to compeir befoir the secreit counsall. 1802–12 Bentham Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827) IV. 590 Without having succeeded so far as to have produced in the breast of the misdoer any permanent..repentance. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xvi, He may be called the father of a' the misdoers in Scotland. 1903 Expositor Nov. 339 The laws of physical nature..are not gentle in their treatment of misdoers, nor..of those involved in the misdoing of others. |