In the 60’s to the early 70’s wicked was a good thing. A car could be wicked fast, something could look wicked or an activity or action could be wicked (good). Used in this way today would be a faux pas on a par with using groovy in any way except when describing the ridges and valleys in a piece of wood. A hundred years ago had you used wicked in a sentence the response from the listener would have been very different. Drift back a little further and employing this word in regards to a person could result in their facing an inquisition, possibly even losing their lives in a very horrific manner.
Wicked: adj
1. very bad: very wrong or very bad
2. mischievous: liking to tease people playfully or cause them slight trouble, but without upsetting them seriously
3. mean: liking to say very unpleasant things to people
4. very good: very impressive or very skillful (slang)
“He plays a wicked game of tennis.”
5. dangerous: capable of causing harm to somebody
“A knife with a wicked blade.”
6. distressing: causing discomfort, distress, or disappointment (informal)
“I’ve got a wicked headache.”
7. disgusting: tasting or smelling disgusting and repulsive
8. (archaic) bad people: people who do very bad things (Encarta)
Wow, wicked really is a wicked word. Those who have lived life in a wicked (1&3) way are going to approach life very differently from those whose lived (2&4) wickedly. I’m beginning to feel #6. Regardless of what type of wicked we were, today we have chosen to live on a different basis, the basis of trusting and relying on God. In so doing though, we once may have been a #8, through God’s love and guidance we leave behind our wicked ways and grow in understanding and service not only to God but also to our fellows. With all this Wicked talk, I feel a musical coming on.
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