If something is pure evil, then it is wicked. Think Darth Vader. On the other hand, as an informal slang term, wicked also means excellent — as in “that DJ is wicked, man!” Go figure. Or it can also mean something that, while not actively evil, is still extremely unpleasant.

When did the word wicked become slang?

It came into English from United States’ black slang in the 1980s or maybe earlier. Certainly it arrived in Britain in the late 1980s. It was part of a trend which goes back decades to use bad words to mean good concepts, or the other way round.

Where did the term wicked originated?

According to Merriam-Webster, the traditional use of “wicked” for “bad” dates to the 13th century, perhaps as an alteration of the Middle English wicke or the Old English wicca. Whoa, witches!

What are some wicked words?

OTHER WORDS FOR wicked 1 unrighteous, ungodly, godless, impious, profane, blasphemous; immoral, profligate, corrupt, depraved, dissolute; heinous; infamous, villainous.

Why do Northerners say wicked?

“Wicked” A dead giveaway that you’re talking to a New Englander, “wicked” is a general intensifier often followed by “pissah,” to mean superb. Given the Puritan past of New England, the term emerged as a pseudo-curse word during the Salem Witch Trials; although it’s also said to originate in Maine.

What is the root word of wicked?

Wicked is an extended form of the term wick meaning bad and is also associated with the Old English term wicca meaning a (male) witch. It is an Old English term and also comes from the Proto-Germanic term in-assu and many other cognates.

What is a very wicked person called?

2. nefarious. The definition of nefarious is someone who is known for being very wicked.

What is the biblical definition of Wicked?

The International Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) gives this definition of wicked according to the Bible: “The state of being wicked; a mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, virtue; evil in thought and life; depravity; sinfulness; criminality.”.

What is the origin of the word wicked?

The word wicked is believed to derive from the Old English word wicca meaning wizard. The female equivalent of wicca was wicce and this has given us the word witch.

How does the Bible define wickedness?

In the Bible, wickedness is associated with worshipping pagan gods, sexual immorality, oppressing the poor, and cruelty in warfare. Even though Scripture teaches that every person is a sinner, few today define themselves as wicked.

What is a synonym for Wicked?

Synonyms of wicked. arch, devilish, elvish, espiègle, impish, knavish, leprechaunish, mischievous, pixie (also pixy), pixieish, prankish, puckish, rascally, roguish, scampish, sly, tricksy, waggish.