Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Peccant
Pec′cant
,Adj.
[L.
peccans
, -antis
, p. pr. of peccare
to sin: cf. F. peccant
.] 1.
Sinning; guilty of transgression; criminal;
as,
. peccant
angelsMilton.
2.
Morbid; corrupt;
as,
. peccant
humorsBacon.
3.
Wrong; defective; faulty.
[R.]
Ayliffe.
Pec′cant
,Noun.
An offender.
[Obs.]
Whitlock.
Webster 1828 Edition
Peccant
PEC'CANT
,Adj.
1.
Sinning; guilty of sin or transgression; criminal; as peccant angels.2.
Morbid; bad; corrupt; not healthy; as peccant humors.3.
Wrong; bad; defective; informal; as a peccant citation. [Not used.]PEC'CANT
,Noun.
Definition 2024
peccant
peccant
English
Adjective
peccant (comparative more peccant, superlative most peccant)
- (obsolete) Unhealthy; causing disease.
- Francis Bacon
- peccant humours
- Francis Bacon
- Sinful.
- Milton
- peccant angels
- Milton
- Wrong; defective; faulty.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Ayliffe to this entry?)
- 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.
- Olive rested her eyes for some moments upon Mrs. Luna, without speaking. Then she said: 'Your veil is not put on straight, Adeline.'
Related terms
Noun
peccant (plural peccants)
- (obsolete) An offender.
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Whitlock to this entry?)