Category:Vicious

Vi"cious, a. Etym: [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.