Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Vicious
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
conductWho . . . heard this heavy curse,
Servant of servants, on his
Servant of servants, on his
vicious
race. Milton.
3.
Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious;
as,
. vicious
air, water, etcDryden.
4.
Not correct or pure; corrupt;
as,
. vicious
language; vicious
idioms5.
Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory;
as, a
. vicious
horse6.
Bitter; spiteful; malignant.
[Colloq.]
Syn. – Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved.
– Vi′cious-ly
, adv.
Vi′cious-ness
, Noun.
Webster 1828 Edition
Vicious
VI'CIOUS
,Adj.
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.Definition 2024
vicious
vicious
English
Alternative forms
- vitious (obsolete)
Adjective
vicious (comparative viciouser or more vicious, superlative viciousest or most vicious)
- Violent, destructive and cruel.
- Savage and aggressive.
- 1922, Michael Arlen, chapter 2/9/1, in “Piracy”: A Romantic Chronicle of These Days:
- He had always been remarkably immune from such little ailments, and had only once in his life been ill, of a vicious pneumonia long ago at school. He hadn't the faintest idea what to with a cold in the head, he just took quinine and continued to blow his nose.
-
- (archaic) Pertaining to vice; characterised by immorality or depravity.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.195:
- We may so seize on vertue, that if we embrace it with an over-greedy and violent desire, it may become vicious.
- 1603, John Florio, translating Michel de Montaigne, Essayes, London: Edward Blount, OCLC 946730821, Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.195:
Synonyms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
pertaining to vice; characterised by immorality or depravity
Old French
Adjective
vicious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular viciouse)
- vicious; malicious
- defective; not capable of functioning
Declension
Declension of vicious
| Number | Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Subject | vicious | viciouse | vicious |
| Oblique | vicious | viciouse | vicious | |
| Plural | Subject | vicious | viciouses | vicious |
| Oblique | vicious | viciouses | vicious |
References
- vicios on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub