2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  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. 
 
  Though  I  perchance  am  vicious  in  my  guess.  --Shak. 
 
  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},  n. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  vicious 
  adj  1:  (of  persons  or  their  actions)  able  or  disposed  to  inflict 
  pain  or  suffering;  "a  barbarous  crime";  "brutal 
  beatings";  "cruel  tortures";  "Stalin's  roughshod 
  treatment  of  the  kulaks";  "a  savage  slap";  "vicious 
  kicks"  [syn:  {barbarous},  {brutal},  {cruel},  {fell},  {roughshod}, 
  {savage}] 
  2:  having  the  nature  of  vice  [syn:  {depraved},  {evil}] 
  3:  marked  by  deep  ill  will  deliberately  harmful;  "a  malevolent 
  lie";  "poisonous  hate...in  his  eyes"-  Ernest  Hemingway; 
  "venomous  criticism";  "vicious  gossip"  [syn:  {poisonous}, 
  {venomous}] 

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