Added 8 October 2026
vicious
/ˈvɪʃəs/ adjective
In Latin: vitiosus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about vicious at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Violent, destructive and cruel.
- Savage and aggressive.
- Pertaining to vice; characterised by immorality or depravity.
Origin
PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English vicious, from Anglo-Norman vicious, (modern French vicieux), from Latin vitiōsus, from vitium (“fault, vice”). Equivalent to vice + -ous.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)