Did you know?
When Should You Use peccant?
Peccant comes from the Latin verb peccare, which means "to sin," "to commit a fault," or "to stumble," and is related to the better-known English word peccadillo ("a slight offense"). Etymologists have suggested that peccare might be related to Latin ped- or pes, meaning "foot," by way of an unattested adjective, peccus, which may have been used to mean "having an injured foot" or "stumbling." Whether or not a connection truly exists between peccant and peccus, peccant itself involves stumbling of a figurative kind—making errors, for example, or falling into immoral, corrupt, or sinful behavior.
Examples of peccant in a Sentence
The Economist, 19 Sep. 2019
Dictionary Entries Near peccant
Cite this Entry
“Peccant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peccant. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
peccant
adjective
Joseph Needham
Share