I. -nt adjective
Etymology: Middle English miscreaunt unbelieving, from Middle French mescreant, present participle of mescroire to disbelieve, from mes- mis- (I) + croire to believe, from Latin credere — more at creed
1. : holding a religious faith or doctrine regarded as false : unbelieving , heretical
either weakminded or miscreant for holding that we are incapable of any rational knowledge of God — James Collins
2. : depraved , vicious , villainous
a miscreant gang
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English miscreaunt unbeliever, from miscreaunt, adjective
1. : one who holds a religious faith or doctrine regarded as false : infidel , heretic
called upon to show that he is not a pagan or a miscreant — Thomas DeQuincey
2. : one who behaves criminally or viciously
understanding of the miscreant here involved will not, of itself, necessarily solve painful administrative decisions — Group Psychotherapy
Synonyms: see villain