E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Wick, Wicked,
and in French Méche, Méchant. That the two English words and the two French words should have similar resemblances and similar meanings is a remarkable coincidence, especially as the two adjectives are quite independent of the nouns in their etymology. “Wick” is the Anglo-Saxon weoce, a rush or reed, but “wicked” is the Anglo-Saxon wæc or wac, vile. So “méche” is the Latin \??\-a wick, but “méchant” is the old French meschæan’t, unlucky.
