méchant

bad, mediocre; mean, unkind

“à méchant ouvrier, point de bon outil” — a bad workman always blames his tools

From Middle French meschant (“bad; wrong”), from Old French mescheant (“hapless, unlucky; worthless”), from mescheoir (“to misfall, happen unfavourably”); equivalent to mé- + choir. For sense evolution, compare mauvais.

jerk (cruel person); baddie, bad guy, villain

“les méchants et les gentils”

From Middle French meschant (“bad; wrong”), from Old French mescheant (“hapless, unlucky; worthless”), from mescheoir (“to misfall, happen unfavourably”); equivalent to mé- + choir. For sense evolution, compare mauvais.