Misdemeanour

Misdemeanour is an act committed, or omitted, in breach of a law forbidding or commanding it. Crimes and misdemeanours are, however, comprehended under this general definition, though the former term "crimes" denotes such offences as are of a more serious and atrocious nature, while lesser faults and omissions are known by the milder term misdemeanours. In English law the term "misdemeanour" is used in contradistinction to felony, and comprises all indictable offences not amounting to felony - such as libels, conspiracies, attempts and solicitations to commit felonies, etc. [Felony.]