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 mywa-a wick, but “méchant” is the old French meschæanʹt, unlucky.