Misdemeans

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. The actions or behavior that are considered minor offenses, typically punishable by smaller fines or shorter jail terms
2. Engaging in conduct that falls below accepted standards, often leading to legal repercussions that are less severe than felonies
3. Minor wrongful acts or legal violations that do not reach the threshold of more serious crimes like felonies

Etymology: The word "misdemeans" is the third-person singular form of "misdemean," a verb meaning to behave badly or commit minor offenses. Its parts are "mis-," a prefix meaning "wrongly" or "badly," and "demean," which is itself the older verb meaning "to conduct oneself" or "to behave." The "-s" simply marks the present tense for "he," "she," or "it." The surprise lies in "demean," which once had no negative sense at all. It comes from the Old French "demener," meaning "to lead" or "to manage," ultimately from Latin roots meaning "to lead" or "to drive." In English, "demean" originally meant "to conduct" or "to manage" oneself, and the lowering sense of "to debase" only developed later, which is why "demean" today tends to suggest disgrace. "Misdemean" is built on this older behaving sense, so the prefix turns "behave" into "behave badly."