misprize

English

Alternative forms

• mesprise, misprise

Etymology

From Middle French mespriser (verb), mespris (noun).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /mɪsˈpɹʌɪz/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Verb

misprize (third-person singular simple present misprizes, present participle misprizing, simple past and past participle misprized)

1. To despise or hold in contempt; to undervalue. [from 15th c.]
   • 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:

     Nature neuer fram'd a womans heart,
     Of prowder stuffe then that of Beatrice:
     Disdaine and Scorne ride sparkling in her eyes,
     Mis-prizing what they looke on […].

Noun

misprize (uncountable)

1. (obsolete, rare) Contempt. [16th–19th c.]
   • 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book IV, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:

     He ment to make them know their follies prise,
     Had not those two him instantly desired
     T'asswage his wrath, and pardon their mesprise […] .

Related terms

• misprision