miscreant

WOTD – 27 April 2009    

English

Etymology

From Old French mescreant (1080) "mis-believer", present participle of mescroire "to misbelieve" (modern mécroire).

Alternative forms

• miscreaunt (obsolete)

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: mĭsʹkrē-ənt, IPA: /ˈmɪs.kri.ənt/, X-SAMPA: /"mIs.kri.@nt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

miscreant (comparative more miscreant, superlative most miscreant)

1. Lacking in conscience or moral principles; unscrupulous.
2. (theology) Holding an incorrect religious belief.

Translations

lacking in conscience or moral principles; unscrupulous

• Czech: ničemný (cs)

• Russian: развращённый (ru) (razvraščónnyj)

holding an incorrect religious belief

• Czech: kacířský (cs)
• French: mécréant (fr)

• Russian: еретический

Noun

miscreant (plural miscreants)

1. One who has behaved badly, or illegally.

   The teacher sent the miscreants to see the school principal.

2. One not restrained by moral principles; an unscrupulous villain.
3. (theology) One who holds an incorrect religious belief; an unbeliever.

Quotations

• For usage examples of this term, see the citations page.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:troublemaker
• See also Wikisaurus:villain

Translations

one who has behaved badly or illegally

• Czech: ničema (cs) m

one not restrained by moral principles

• Czech: ničema (cs) m

one who holds an incorrect religious belief; an unbeliever

• Czech: kacíř (cs) m, nevěrec (cs) m

• French: mécréant (fr) m, mécréante (fr) f