3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Misdemeanor  \Mis`de*mean"or\,  n. 
  1.  Ill  behavior;  evil  conduct;  fault.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  (Law)  A  crime  less  than  a  felony.  --Wharton. 
 
  Note:  As  a  rule  in  the  old  English  law,  offenses  capitally 
  punishable  were  felonies;  all  other  indictable  offenses 
  were  misdemeanors.  In  common  usage,  the  word  crime  is 
  employed  to  denote  the  offenses  of  a  deeper  and  more 
  atrocious  dye,  while  small  faults  and  omissions  of  less 
  consequence  are  comprised  under  the  gentler  name  of 
  misdemeanors.  --Blackstone.  The  distinction,  however, 
  between  felonies  and  misdemeanors  is  purely  arbitrary, 
  and  is  in  most  jurisdictions  either  abrogated  or  so  far 
  reduced  as  to  be  without  practical  value.  Cf  {Felony}. 
  --Wharton. 
 
  Syn:  Misdeed;  misconduct;  misbehavior;  fault;  trespass; 
  transgression. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  misdemeanor 
  n  :  a  crime  less  serious  than  a  felony  [syn:  {misdemeanour},  {infraction}, 
  {offence},  {offense},  {violation},  {infringement}] 
 
  From  THE  DEVIL'S  DICTIONARY  ((C)1911  Released  April  15  1993)  [devils]: 
 
  MISDEMEANOR,  n.  An  infraction  of  the  law  having  less  dignity  than  a 
  felony  and  constituting  no  claim  to  admittance  into  the  best  criminal 
  society. 
 
  By  misdemeanors  he  essays  to  climb 
  Into  the  aristocracy  of  crime. 
  O,  woe  was  him!  --  with  manner  chill  and  grand 
  "Captains  of  industry"  refused  his  hand, 
  "Kings  of  finance"  denied  him  recognition 
  And  "railway  magnates"  jeered  his  low  condition. 
  He  robbed  a  bank  to  make  himself  respected. 
  They  still  rebuffed  him  for  he  was  detected. 
  S.V.  Hanipur 
 
 

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