peccant

American  

[pek-uhnt] / ˈpɛk ənt /

adjective

1. sinning; guilty of a moral offense.

2. violating a rule, principle, or established practice; faulty; wrong.

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peccant British  

/ ˈpɛkənt /

adjective

1. guilty of an offence; corrupt

2. violating or disregarding a rule; faulty

3. producing disease; morbid

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Other Word Forms

• peccancy noun
• peccantly adverb
• peccantness noun

Etymology

Origin of peccant

1595–1605; < Latin peccant- (stem of peccāns ), present participle of peccāre to err, offend; -ant

Example Sentences

Many of these eruptions are considered of a critical and salutary nature; and the ancients fancied that nature relieved herself by throwing upon the surface some “peccant humours.”

From Project Gutenberg

Was a crusade to be preached, for the annihilation of the peccant race?

From Project Gutenberg

Is it not always humiliating to be treated like a peccant school-boy?

From Project Gutenberg

Landlord and maidens must be instantly released with full apologies, with substantial damages in the future, which should be extorted from the pay of the truculent and peccant braves.

From Project Gutenberg

Nor did the peccant Lieutenant James think it worth while to resign his commission.

From Project Gutenberg