Enormous

Enormous
Enormous E*nor"mous, a. [L. enormis enormous, out of rule; e out + norma rule: cf. F. ['e]norme. See {Normal}.] 1. Exceeding the usual rule, norm, or measure; out of due proportion; inordinate; abnormal. ``Enormous bliss.'' --Milton. ``This enormous state.'' --Shak. ``The hoop's enormous size.'' --Jenyns. [1913 Webster]

Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Exceedingly wicked; outrageous; atrocious; monstrous; as, an enormous crime. [1913 Webster]

That detestable profession of a life so enormous. --Bale.

Syn: Huge; vast; immoderate; immense; excessive; prodigious; monstrous.

Usage: -- {Enormous}, {Immense}, {Excessive}. We speak of a thing as enormous when it overpasses its ordinary law of existence or far exceeds its proper average or standard, and becomes -- so to speak -- abnormal in its magnitude, degree, etc.; as, a man of enormous strength; a deed of enormous wickedness. Immense expresses somewhat indefinitely an immeasurable quantity or extent. Excessive is applied to what is beyond a just measure or amount, and is always used in an evil; as, enormous size; an enormous crime; an immense expenditure; the expanse of ocean is immense. ``Excessive levity and indulgence are ultimately excessive rigor.'' --V. Knox. ``Complaisance becomes servitude when it is excessive.'' --La Rochefoucauld (Trans). [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • enormous — [ē nôr′məs, inôr′məs] adj. [ME enormyouse < L enormis (see ENORMITY) + OUS] 1. very much exceeding the usual size, number, or degree; of great size; huge; vast; immense 2. Archaic very wicked; outrageous enormously adv. enormousness n. SYN.… …   English World dictionary

  • enormous — index exorbitant, far reaching, flagrant, grandiose, gross (flagrant), major, outrageous, ponderous …   Law dictionary

  • enormous — 1530s, from L. enormis out of rule, irregular, shapeless, extraordinary, very large, from ex out of (see EX (Cf. ex )) + norma rule, norm (see NORM (Cf. norm)), with English OUS (Cf. ous) substituted for L. is. Meaning …   Etymology dictionary

  • enormous — *huge, vast, immense, elephantine, mammoth, giant, gigantic, gigantean, colossal, gargantuan, Herculean, cyclopean, titanic, Brobdingnagian Analogous words: prodigious, stupendous, tremendous, *monstrous, monumental: inordinate, exorbitant,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • enormous — [adj] very large astronomic, barn door*, blimp*, colossal, excessive, gargantuan, gigantic, gross, huge, humongous, immense, jumbo*, mammoth, massive, monstrous, mountainous, prodigious, stupendous, supercolossal*, titanic*, tremendous, vast,… …   New thesaurus

  • enormous — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ very large. DERIVATIVES enormously adverb enormousness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • enormous — 01. The visit by the President resulted in an [enormous] traffic jam. 02. Russia is an [enormous] country, the largest in the world. 03. She lives in an [enormous] house, with 8 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and an indoor swimming pool. 04. Céline Dion… …   Grammatical examples in English

  • enormous — [[t]ɪnɔ͟ː(r)məs[/t]] ♦♦♦ 1) ADJ GRADED Something that is enormous is extremely large in size or amount. The main bedroom is enormous... There is, of course, an enormous amount to see. 2) ADJ: usu ADJ n (emphasis) You can use enormous to emphasize …   English dictionary

  • enormous — adjective Etymology: Latin enormis, from e, ex out of + norma rule Date: 1531 1. a. archaic abnormal, inordinate b. exceedingly wicked ; shocking < an enormous sin > 2. mark …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • enormous — e|nor|mous [ ı nɔrməs ] adjective *** very large in size or quantity: The enormous birthday cake dwarfed everything else on the table. The stress they re under is enormous. an enormous amount/number/volume etc.: An enormous amount of money has… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

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