Peccant
/ˈpɛk.ənt/noun
Harmful, injurious, or morally faulty.
Did you know?Peccant comes from the same Latin root as *peccadillo*, and both ultimately trace to *peccāre*, a verb meaning to sin or commit a fault.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
peccāre
“to sin, make a fault, go wrong”
Late Latin
Latin
peccāns
“sinning, offending”
14th Century
English
peccant
“sinning; morally or physically faulty”
Modern English
English
peccant
“harmful, injurious, or morally faulty”
Explore more surprising origins