Search Result for "misdirection": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (4)

1. an incorrect charge to a jury given by a judge;

2. incorrect directions or instructions;

3. management that is careless or inefficient;
- Example: "he accomplished little due to the mismanagement of his energies"
[syn: mismanagement, misdirection]

4. the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something;
- Example: "conjurers are experts at misdirection"
[syn: distraction, misdirection]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Misdirection \Mis`di*rec"tion\, n. 1. The act of directing wrongly, or the state of being so directed. [1913 Webster] 2. (Law) An error of a judge in charging the jury on a matter of law. --Mozley & W. [1913 Webster] 3. The direction of another's attention to an unimportant place or matter, for the purpose of being able to perform an action undetected; as, misdirection is an important part of a magician's art. [PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

misdirection n 1: an incorrect charge to a jury given by a judge 2: incorrect directions or instructions 3: management that is careless or inefficient; "he accomplished little due to the mismanagement of his energies" [syn: mismanagement, misdirection] 4: the act of distracting; drawing someone's attention away from something; "conjurers are experts at misdirection" [syn: distraction, misdirection]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

42 Moby Thesaurus words for "misdirection": bad policy, bum steer, college of Laputa, corruption, false coloring, impolicy, inexpedience, inexpediency, maladministration, malfeasance, malpractice, misadministration, misconduct, misconstruction, misfeasance, misgovernment, misguidance, mishandling, misinformation, misinstruction, misinterpretation, misknowledge, misleading, mismanagement, misrepresentation, misrule, misteaching, misuse, mystification, neglect, negligence, nonfeasance, obfuscation, obscurantism, obscuration, omission, perversion, slanting, sophistry, straining, torturing, wrongdoing
Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856):

MISDIRECTION, practice. An error made by a judge in charging the jury in a special case. 2. Such misdirection is either in relation to matters of law or matters of fact. 3.-1. When the judge at the trial misdirects the jury, on matters of law, material to the issue, whatever may be the nature of the case, the verdict will be set aside, and a new trial granted; 6 Mod. 242; 2 Salk. 649; 2 Wils. 269; or if such misdirection appear in the bill of exceptions or otherwise upon the record, a judgment founded on a verdict thus obtained, will be reversed. When the issue consists of a mixed question of law and fact and there is a conceded state of facts, the rest is a question for the court; 2 Wend. R. 596; and a misdirection in this respect will avoid the verdict. 4.-2. Misdirection as to matters of fact will in some cases be sufficient to vitiate the proceedings. If, for example, the judge should undertake to dictate to the jury. When the, judge delivers, his opinion to the jury on a matter of fact, it should be delivered as mere opinion, and not as direction. 12 John. R. 513. But the judge is in general allowed to very liberal discretion in charging a jury on matters of fact. 1 McCl. & Y. 286. 5. As to its effects, misdirection must be calculated to do injustice; for if justice has been done, and a new trial would produce the same result, a new trial will not be granted on that account, 2 Salk. 644, 646; 2 T. R. 4; 1 B. & P. 338; 5 Mass. R. 1; 7 Greenl. R. 442; 2 Pick. R. 310; 4 Day's R. 42; 5 Day's R. 329; 3 John. R. 528; 2 Penna. R. 325.