Viciousness

Viciousness
Vicious Vi"cious, a. [OF. vicious, F. vicieux, fr. L. vitiosus, fr. vitium vice. See {Vice} a fault.] 1. Characterized by vice or defects; defective; faulty; imperfect. [1913 Webster]

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

The title of these lords was vicious in its origin. --Burke. [1913 Webster]

A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]

2. Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples; vicious conduct. [1913 Webster]

Who . . . heard this heavy curse, Servant of servants, on his vicious race. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air, water, etc. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language; vicious idioms. [1913 Webster]

5. Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a vicious horse. [1913 Webster]

6. Bitter; spiteful; malignant. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Syn: Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved. [1913 Webster] -- {Vi"cious*ly}, adv. -- {Vi"cious*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • viciousness — noun see vicious …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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  • viciousness — noun a) The characteristic of being vicious. b) The desire to cause harm to others; extreme cruelty. Syn: viciosity, vitiosity …   Wiktionary

  • viciousness — (Roget s Thesaurus II) noun A desire to harm others or to see others suffer: despitefulness, ill will, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, poisonousness, spite, spitefulness, venomousness. See ATTITUDE …   English dictionary for students

  • viciousness — vi·cious·ness || vɪʃəsnɪs n. quality of being vicious; cruelty, wickedness …   English contemporary dictionary

  • viciousness — vi·cious·ness …   English syllables

  • viciousness — See: vicious …   English dictionary

  • viciousness — noun the trait of extreme cruelty • Syn: ↑ferociousness, ↑brutality, ↑savagery • Derivationally related forms: ↑vicious, ↑brutal (for: ↑brutality), ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

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