referred to as a technical term. often when there's a debate about a technical term, people turn to dictionaries. it was first published in 1755. the founders had this book on their desks. the supreme court still cites johnson's dictionary to determine the original public understanding of the words used in the constitution. here's how the 1785 edition of johns johnson's dictionary defines it. high is opposed little as high treason. the definition of misdemeanor is defined as something less than an atrocious crime. atrocious is defined as wicked in a high degree. if you look at how these words were defined the constitution was debated and ratified a