miscreant

Alternative forms

• miscreaunt (obsolete)

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) enPR: mĭsʹkrē-ənt, IPA^(key): /ˈmɪs.kɹi.ənt/

• 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.

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.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Addison to this entry?)

3. (theology) One who holds a false religious belief; a misbeliever.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

   (Can we find and add a quotation of De Quincey to this entry?)

   • Rivers

     Thou oughtest not to be slothful to the destruction of the miscreants, but to constrain them to obey our Lord God.

Anagrams

• Encratism, minecarts