viciousness

2 definitions found

viciousness - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  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.
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              Though I perchance am vicious in my guess. --Shak.
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              The title of these lords was vicious in its origin.
                                                    --Burke.
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              A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning. --De
                                                    Quincey.
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     2. Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct;
        depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples;
        vicious conduct.
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              Who . . . heard this heavy curse,
              Servant of servants, on his vicious race. --Milton.
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     3. Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air,
        water, etc. --Dryden.
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     4. Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language;
        vicious idioms.
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     5. Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly;
        refractory; as, a vicious horse.
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     6. Bitter; spiteful; malignant. [Colloq.]
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     Syn: Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved.
          [1913 Webster] -- Vi"cious*ly, adv. --
          Vi"cious*ness, n.
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viciousness - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  viciousness
      n 1: the trait of extreme cruelty [syn: ferociousness,
           brutality, viciousness, savagery]