Rogue

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈɹəʊɡ/

Definitions

1. A person who behaves dishonestly or breaks rules ; an animal that lives separately from its usual group ; something that acts in an unpredictable or uncontrollable manner
2. An individual known for untrustworthy or unruly conduct ; a creature living apart from its herd or pack ; an object or force that operates outside normal control
3. One who acts deceitfully or without moral principles ; a solitary animal separated from its companions ; an element or device that behaves unpredictably or wildly

Etymology: The origin of "rogue" is genuinely unsettled, and the leading candidates point in quite different directions. One suggestion ties it to "roger," an early English term for a begging vagabond who posed as a poor scholar from Oxford or Cambridge, possibly from Latin "rogare," meaning "to ask." Another traces it to Middle French "rogue," meaning arrogant or haughty, which may come from an Old Norse word for excess or exuberance, related to Icelandic "hroki," meaning arrogance. A third possibility links it to Celtic, through Breton "rog," meaning haughty. What makes this tangle interesting is that the candidates describe different kinds of character. The begging-scholar idea gives us a sponger who lives by deception, while the haughty and exuberant sense suggests someone who is proud and unruly. Over time these strands seem to have merged into the modern picture of a dishonest rule breaker, though which strand fed which meaning cannot be established with confidence.

Synonyms: scoundrel, rascal, villain

Antonyms: hero, savior