Malecontent

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A person who is dissatisfied and complains frequently about their circumstances or society
2. A dissatisfied individual who expresses grievance or rebellion against existing conditions or authority
3. An unhappy person who openly voices discontent with their situation or the established order

Etymology: The spelling "malecontent" is an older form of "malcontent," and the word has long been used for someone who is discontented and says so. Its core is the Latin "malus" meaning "bad" or "ill," joined to "contentus," the past participle of "continere," "to hold together" or "to be satisfied." Together they formed "malecontentus" in Late Latin, meaning something like "ill-content" or "badly satisfied." The word passed into French as "malcontent," and English borrowed it from there. The French form is where the spelling "malcontent" comes from, which is why the older "malecontent" with its Latin-shaped middle vowel gradually fell out of use. Because it came in through French, the word carries a Continental flavour that suits its sense of a restless grumbler who is at odds with the powers that be.