Wikkednesse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being morally corrupt and opposed to goodness ; an act of cruelty, injustice or sin that causes harm to others
2. Moral depravity and the quality of being bad at heart ; a particular immoral action or offence committed against another person
3. The quality of deep moral evil or sin in a person's character ; a single shameful or harmful deed that violates what is right

Etymology: Wikkednesse is the Middle English spelling of "wickedness," with the doubled k and the -nesse ending of its period. The ending is an old suffix meaning "state or quality of," so the word means simply the state of being wicked. That base, "wicked," descends from Old English "wicca," a sorcerer, and "wicce," a witch. Early uses of the adjective described magical practice and those who carried it out. The sense of moral badness developed from that older association with witchcraft. The ultimate origin of "wicca" and "wicce" is uncertain.