misprise: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / ArchaicLiterary / Archaic
Quick answer
What does “misprise” mean?
To undervalue, scorn, or hold in contempt.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To undervalue, scorn, or hold in contempt.
To fail to recognize the true worth, value, or significance of someone or something; to treat with disdain or disregard.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Extremely rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British texts due to historical literary preservation.
Connotations
Archaising, poetic, possibly pretentious if used in modern contexts.
Frequency
Effectively zero in contemporary corpora for both. No significant regional frequency difference.
Grammar
How to Use “misprise” in a Sentence
[Subject] misprises [Object] (transitive)[Subject] misprises [Object] as [complement]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “misprise” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He would often misprise the counsel of his elders.
- Do not misprise her humble offering; it comes from the heart.
American English
- The critic chose to misprise the novel's unconventional structure.
- They misprised the treaty, leading to future conflict.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical literary analysis.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “misprise”
- Confusing it with 'misprice'.
- Using it in modern, non-literary contexts.
- Misspelling as 'misprize' (which is the more standard archaic form).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is extremely rare and considered archaic or literary. The more common modern equivalents are 'scorn', 'despise', or 'undervalue'.
'Misprise' implies a judgment of low value or contempt. 'Misunderstand' implies a failure to comprehend correctly. They are not synonyms.
Yes, 'misprize' is a variant spelling of the same archaic word. 'Misprise' is less common but attested.
Almost certainly not. It is not part of modern formal or technical registers. Its use would be archaic and potentially confusing.
To undervalue, scorn, or hold in contempt.
Misprise: in British English it is pronounced /mɪsˈpraɪz/, and in American English it is pronounced /mɪsˈpraɪz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to misprise at one's peril (constructed)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MISS the PRIZE' because you scorned it. You 'mis-prize' something by not prizing it correctly.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERVALUING IS LOOKING DOWN UPON; SCORN IS A PHYSICAL REJECTION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the use of 'misprise' be MOST appropriate?