misdemean

1 of 2

transitive verb

mis·​de·​mean

¦misdə̇¦mēn,

-stə̇-

archaic

: to behave (oneself) badly

you that best should teach us, have misdemeaned yourself

—Shakespeare

misdemean

2 of 2

noun

"

archaic

: an act of misbehavior

if any convict shall … commit any misdemean

—S. J. Barrows

Word History

Etymology

Transitive verb

mis- entry 1 + demean (verb)

Noun

mis- entry 1 + demean (noun)

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