▪ I. misˈprize, n.1 rare.
Also 6 mes-, 6, 9 -prise.
[f. misprize v.1: cf. OF. mespris, mod.F. mépris.]
= prec.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. vii. 39 Mammon was much displeased, yet no'te he chuse But beare the rigour of his bold mesprise. a 1843 G. Field in C. R. Leslie Mem. Constable (1843) xi, 116 Our most eminent landscape painters..have been subjected..to frequent misprise and neglect. 1898 T. Hardy Wessex Poems 154 When I found you, helpless lying, And you waived my deep misprise. |
▪ II. † misˈprize, n.2 Obs. rare—1.
[Belongs to misprize v.2 Cf. OF. mesprise, mod.F. méprise.]
Mistake.
| 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. xii. 19 A goodly Ship..Which through great disaventure, or mesprize, Her selfe had ronne into that hazardize. |
▪ III. misprize, v.1
(mɪˈspraɪz)
Also 5–6 mespryse, 5–9 -prise.
[a. OF. mesprisier, -priser (mod.F. mépriser) = Sp. menospreciar, Pg. menosprezar:—L. *minuspretiāre: see mis-2 and prize v. Cf. meprize v.]
trans. a. To despise, contemn, scorn. b. To fail to appreciate the good qualities of.
| 1481 Caxton Godfrey liii. (1893) 94 A mescreaunt named arrius which mesprised certeyn poyntes of the fayth. 1530 Palsgr. 635/1 He that mespriseth his betters it shalbe longe or he thrive. 1549 Compl. Scot. iii. 28 He that misprisis the correctione of his preceptor. 1599 Shakes. Much Ado iii. i. 52 Disdaine and Scorne ride sparkling in her eyes, Mis-prizing what they looke on. 1637 Heywood Royal King ii. iv, It sorrows me that you misprise my love. 1660 tr. Amyraldus' Treat. conc. Relig. ii. iii. 205 By misprising and debasing his own worth. 1805 Scott Last Minstr. v. xxx, Less lik'd he still that scornful jeer Mispris'd the land he lov'd so dear. 1894 Blackmore Perlycross 23 Her fine qualities..were misprised and under-valued. |
▪ IV. † misˈprize, v.2 Obs.
Also 5 mes-, myspryse, 6–7 misprise.
[f. OF. mespris, pa. pple. of mesprendre to commit a crime (mod.F. méprendre). Cf. comprise, reprise.]
1. intr. To commit an offence, do wrong.
| 1485 Caxton Paris & V. (1868) 48, I..knowe in my self that I haue mesprysed [orig. i'ay grandement mespris] and faylled toward you. c 1489 ― Sonnes of Aymon ii. 59 Ye mysprysed sore whan my brother..ye made thus shamfully deye. a 1500 Melusine 79 Yf in eny poynt forsayd [I] haue myssaid or mesprysed. |
2. trans. To mistake, misunderstand. Also with clause and absol.
| 1598 B. Jonson Case Altered iv. i, Monsieur Gaspar..misprise me not. 1624 Middleton Game at Chess v. iii, How you misprize! this is not meant to you-ward. 1657 W. Morice Coena quasi κοινὴ Def. xv. 206 There are some that misprise their faults to be their perfections. |