1False belief or faith; lack of belief; (formerly) specifically paganism or heresy.
2Wrongdoing, misdemeanour.
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in John Gower (d. 1408), poet. From Anglo-Norman and Middle French mescreance from mescreant; compare -ance. Compare Old Occitan mescrezensa, mescrezenza, Occitan mescresença.