Definition of "peccant"

peccant angels

1667, John Milton, “Book X”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […]; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873,

[T]hat a peccant Creature ſhould diſapprove, and repent of every Violation of, and Declination from the Rules of juſt and honeſt, this, right Reaſon diſcourſing upon the Stock of its ovvn Principles, could not but infer.

1690 November 12 (Gregorian calendar); first published 1694, Robert South, “Natural Religion, without Revelation, Shewn Only Sufficient to Render a Sinner Inexcusable: In a Sermon Preached before the University, at Christ-Church, Oxon. on November 2. 1690 , published 1727, page 248

Syndic Gutzmar and the peccant Officials being summoned out to Strehlen, it had been asked of them, "Do you know this Letter?" Upon which they fell on their knees, "Ach Ihro Majestät [Oh Your Majesty]!" unable to deny their handwriting; […]

1862, Thomas Carlyle, “Grand Review at Strehlen: Neipperg Takes Aim at Breslau, but Another Hits It”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume III, London: Chapman and Hall, […], book XIII, page 452

[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, George Meredith, “Renée”, in Beauchamp’s Career […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], page 75

[T]he fact that the peccant doctor [Sir James Clark, 1st Baronet] continued in the Queen's service made the Hastings family irreconcilable and produced an unpleasant impression of unrepentant error upon the public mind.

1921, Lytton Strachey, “Lord Melbourne”, in Queen Victoria, London: Chatto & Windus, section VI, page 82

[O]ur ovvne Statutes […] preciſely prohibit the ſatyricall depraving, traducing, or derogation of the Common Prayer-Booke, and of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in any Enterludes, Playes or Rimes, (in vvhich kinde Playes had been formerly peccant) under ſevere penalties.

1632 (indicated as 1633), William Prynne, “Actus 3, Scena Sexta”, in Histrio-mastix. The Players Scourge, or, Actors Tragædie, […], London: […] E[lizabeth] A[llde,] [Thomas Cotes, Augustine Matthews] and W[illiam] I[ones] for Michael Sparke, […], 1st part, page 123

[T]he VVorld is novv ſo peccant upon this Account, that I am afraid Inſtances vvould be miſtaken for Invectives.

1659 August 3 (Gregorian calendar); first published 1692, Robert South, “Interest Deposed, and Truth Restored: Or, A Word in Season, Deliver’d in Two Sermons: The First at St. Mary’s in Oxford, on the 24th of July 1659 , published 1727, page 105

Thus haue I deſcribed and opened as by a kinde of diſſection, thoſe peccant humors (the principall of them) vvhich hath not onely giuen impediment to the proficence of Learning, but haue giuen alſo occaſion, to the traducement thereof: […]

1605, Francis Bacon, “The First Booke”, in The Twoo Bookes of Francis Bacon. Of the Proficience and Aduancement of Learning, Diuine and Humane, London: […] [Thomas Purfoot and Thomas Creede] for Henrie Tomes, […], folio 27, recto

It is allowed, that Senates and great Councils are often troubled with redundant, ebullient, and other peccant Humours, with many Diſeaſes of the Head and more of the Heart; with ſtrong Convulſions, with grievous Contractions of the Nerves and Sinews in both Hands, but eſpecially the Right; with Spleen, Flatus, Vertigos and Deliriums; with Scrophulous Tumors full of fœtid purulent Matter; with ſower frothy Ructations, with Canine Appetites and Crudeneſs of Digeſtion, beſides many others needleſs to mention.

1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “A Further Account of the Academy. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), page 82

It is far from impoſſible to reconcide, […] the ſacredneſs of as hereditary principle of ſucceſſion in our government, vvith a povver of change in its application in caſes of extreme emergency. Even in that extremity (if vve take the meaſure of our rights by our exerciſe of them at the Revolution) the change is to be confined to the peccant part only; to the part vvhich produced the neceſſary deviation; and even then it is to be effected vvithout a decompoſition of the vvhole civil and political maſs, for the purpoſe of originating a nevv civil order out of the firſt elements of ſociety.

1790 November, Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in France, and on the Proceedings in Certain Societies in London Relative to that Event. […], London: […] J[ames] Dodsley, […], page 29

I am truly sorry that I cannot accompany you in your ride this morning, owing to a violent pain in my face, arising from a wart to which I by medical advice applied a caustic. Whether I put too much, I do not know, but the consequence is, that not only I have been put to some pain, but the peccant part and its immediate environ are as black as if the printer's devil had marked me for an author.

1823 April 14, Lord Byron, “Letter DXIV. To the Earl of B**.”, in Thomas Moore, editor, Letters and Journals of Lord Byron: With Notices of His Life, […], volume II, London: John Murray, […], published 1830, page 640

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, R[alph] W[aldo] Emerson, “Essay II. Power.”, in The Conduct of Life, Boston, Mass.: Ticknor and Fields, page 52

[O]ne feels that no community can really be as purged of peccant humours as the typical American has for the most part found itself foredoomed to look.

1906 August, Henry James, “Baltimore”, in The American Scene, London: Chapman and Hall, published 30 January 1907, section II, page 312

Nor is the Party cited bound to appear, if the Citation be evidently peccant in point of Form or Matter.

1726, John Ayliffe, “Of Church-yards, &c.”, in Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani: Or, A Commentary, by Way of Supplement to the Canons and Constitutions of the Church of England. […], London: […] D. Leach, and sold by John Walthoe […], page 177

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.

1885–1886, Henry James, chapter XII, in The Bostonians […], London; New York, N.Y.: Macmillan and Co., published 16 February 1886, 1st book, page 94

Yet this conceitedneſſe and Itch of being taken for a Counſellour, maketh more Reprovers, than Peccants in the vvorld.

1654, Richard Whitlock, Ζωοτομία [Zōotomía], or, Observations on the Present Manners of the English: […], London: […] Tho[mas] Roycroft, and are to be sold by Humphrey Moseley, […], page 388