miscreant
UK: ˈmɪskriənt | US: ˈmɪskriənt
n. a person who behaves badly or unlawfully; a villain or criminal
adj. (archaic) holding false or unorthodox beliefs; heretical
miscreant = mis<wrong> + creant<believing>
- mis (from Old French mes-, meaning "wrong" or "badly")
- creant (from Old French creant, present participle of croire, meaning "to believe," from Latin credere)
Etymology Origin:
The word "miscreant" originated in Middle English (14th century) from Old French mescreant, meaning "infidel" or "heretic." It combined mes- (wrong) with creant (believing), implying someone who held "wrong beliefs." Over time, its meaning shifted from religious heresy to general wrongdoing, emphasizing moral or legal deviance. The root credere (Latin for "to believe") also appears in words like "credible" and "creed," highlighting the original focus on belief systems.
The town sheriff vowed to capture the miscreant who robbed the bank.
In medieval times, a miscreant might be accused of witchcraft.
The judge sentenced the miscreant to community service for vandalism.
His miscreant behavior earned him a reputation as a troublemaker.
The novel’s protagonist reforms a group of miscreants through kindness.