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vicious |
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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