"Past misdeeds" refers to actions or behaviors that were morally or legally wrong, done by someone in the past. These actions may have caused harm, hurt someone, or were against accepted standards or laws. Full definition
Gregory takes the case of a parishioner who, let us suppose, having at one point grossly sinned, has now completely desisted from that sin and yet does not wish to go through any semblance of an awkward or embarrassing act of penitence before God for past misdeeds. (religion-online.org)
Others cherry - picked paragraphs out of context — reading Svenonius» rhetorical examples of past misdeeds as endorsement — and missed one of Svenonius» points: The dangers of making false comparisons between the past and the present to excuse what we do in the future. (paris-la.com)
For instance, researchers have shown hand - washing can assuage guilt over past misdeeds. (discovermagazine.com)