scélérat
villain, scoundrel
noun seh-leh-RAH Rare
Origin: Latin 'sceleratus' (wicked)
Usage Note
Scélérat is a literary or theatrical word for a villain or criminal. The final t is silent. It is rarely used in everyday speech but common in classic French literature and period dramas. The feminine form is scélérate; the adjective scélérat can also describe wicked actions. Related: scélératesse (villainy).
Examples
"Le scélérat fut finalement démasqué."
Natural Translation
The villain was finally unmasked.
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