Peccant

Origin

Latin peccāns, peccantis

Full definition of peccant

Adjective

1. (obsolete) unhealthy; causing disease
• Francis Baconpeccant humours
2. sinful
• Miltonpeccant angels
3. wrong; defective; faulty
• 1886, Henry James, The Bostonians.Olive rested her eyes for some moments upon Mrs. Luna, without speaking. Then she said: 'Your veil is not put on straight, Adeline.'

  'I look like a monster—that, evidently, is what you mean!' Adeline exclaimed, going to the mirror to rearrange the peccant tissue.

Related terms

• impeccable
• peccable

Noun

1. (obsolete) An offender.