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Webster 1913 Edition

Vicious

Vi′cious

,
Adj.
[OF.
vicious
, F.
vicieux
, fr. L.
vitiosus
, fr.
vitium
vice. See
Vice
a fault.]
1.
Characterized by vice or defects; defective; faulty; imperfect.
Though I perchance am
vicious
in my guess.
Shakespeare
The title of these lords was
vicious
in its origin.
Burke.
A charge against Bentley of
vicious
reasoning.
De Quincey.
2.
Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked;
as,
vicious
children;
vicious
examples;
vicious
conduct
.
Who . . . heard this heavy curse,
Servant of servants, on his
vicious
race.
Milton.
3.
Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious;
as,
vicious
air, water, etc
.
Dryden.
4.
Not correct or pure; corrupt;
as,
vicious
language;
vicious
idioms
.
5.
Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory;
as, a
vicious
horse
.
6.
Bitter; spiteful; malignant.
[Colloq.]
Syn. – Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved.
–
Vi′cious-ly
,
adv.
–
Vi′cious-ness
,
Noun.

Webster 1828 Edition

Vicious

VI'CIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. vitiosus.]
1.
Defective; imperfect; as a system of government vicious and unsound.
2.
Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked; habitually transgressing the moral law; as a vicious race of men; vicious parents; vicious children.
3.
Corrupt; contrary to moral principles or to rectitude; as vicious examples; vicious conduct.
4.
Corrupt, in a physical sense; foul; impure; insalubrious; as vicious air.
5.
Corrupt; not genuine or pure; as vicious language; vicious idioms.
6.
Unruly; refractory; not well tamed or broken; as a vicious horse.

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