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.