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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