vice
/vaɪs/
noun
Origin
Latin
vitium — fault, blemish, defect
Overview
Meaning Now
- immoral or wicked behavior
- a weakness of character or personal fault
Literal older meaning
a defect or failing
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
vice
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
In medieval morality plays, 'Vice' was often a personified character who served as the tempter or antagonist to the hero, representing the various sinful tendencies of human nature.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
vitium
“fault, blemish, crime”
- Old French
vice
“sin, defect”
Inherited directly from Latin vitium.
- Middle English
vice
“wickedness, failing”
Connections
Word parts
vice
root
immoral behavior
Related across languages
French
vice, defect
Spanish
vicio
vice, bad habit
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Related to vice
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.