miscreant

[ mis-kree-uh nt ]
/ ˈmɪs kri ənt /

adjective

depraved, villainous, or base.
Archaic. holding a false or unorthodox religious belief; heretical.

noun

a vicious or depraved person; villain.
Archaic. a heretic or infidel.

Origin of miscreant

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French mescreant unbelieving, equivalent to mes- mis-1 + creant ≪ Latin crēdent- credent

Example sentences from the Web for miscreant

British Dictionary definitions for miscreant

miscreant
/ (ˈmɪskrɪənt) /

noun

a wrongdoer or villain
archaic an unbeliever or heretic

adjective

evil or villainous
archaic unbelieving or heretical

Word Origin for miscreant

C14: from Old French mescreant unbelieving, from mes- mis- 1 + creant, ultimately from Latin credere to believe