rogue
rogue Lexical Profile
rogue Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A dishonest, unprincipled, or dangerous person.
"The detective realized he was dealing with a ruthless rogue who had no respect for the law."
A mischievous but often likable person.
"Despite his constant pranks, the boy was affectionately known around the village as a charming rogue."
An animal, especially an elephant, that lives apart from its herd and has destructive or violent tendencies.
"The wildlife wardens were dispatched to track down a rogue that had been destroying crops in the valley."
• verb
To remove inferior, diseased, or unwanted plants from a crop or field.
"The farmers carefully rogued the potato fields to prevent the spread of the viral infection."
To cheat or defraud someone.
"The traveling merchant managed to rogue the unsuspecting villagers out of their gold."
Word Nuance & Usage
Today, it is most frequently encountered in its adjectival form (as in 'rogue state') or in the idiom 'to go rogue', meaning to abruptly act independently and without authorization.
• Rhymes for rogue
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the mid-16th century, originally denoting an idle vagrant or beggar. It is possibly derived from the Latin 'rogare' (to beg) or related to Celtic slang.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.