peccant /ˈpɛk(ə)nt/adjective 4noun 1forms 3 adjective4 •(no longer used) Of a person, etc.: that commits or has committed an offence or a sin; blameworthy, culpable, offending, sinful, sinning.[He] was bereaving his houses of the matronly government, deprived of which they were all of them likely soon to be at sixes and sevens with disorderly lacqueys, peccant maids, and cooks in hysterics. — 1876 •(no longer used) Of an action or thing: causing offence or sin; offensive, sinful.[T]he VVorld is novv so peccant upon this Account, that I am afraid Instances vvould be mistaken for Invectives. — 1659 •(no longer used) Offending a norm, a rule, etc.; defective, faulty, wrong.Nor is the Party cited bound to appear, if the Citation be evidently peccant in point of Form or Matter. — 1726 •(no longer used, historical) Especially of humours of the body: diseased, unhealthy; also, causing disease.And we have a certain instinct, that where is great amount of life, though gross and peccant, it has its own checks and purifications, and will be found at last in harmony with moral laws. — 1860 noun1 •(no longer used) An offender; also, a sinner.Yet this conceitednesse and Itch of being taken for a Counsellour, maketh more Reprovers, than Peccants in the vvorld. — 1654 formspeccants · more peccant · most peccant
