Here - Norm's Book Club

VICI0T3S.
17^-8 EftSKiNE Inst. Law Scot. in. ix. § 49 Though vitious
intromUsioD be a delict, it may be referred to oath. Ibid,
% 52 Before he be cited by any creditor as a vitious intromitter.
1838 W. Bell Diet. Law Scot. 520 The term
vitious intromissicm is applied exclusively to the heir's unwurantable
intromission with the moveable estate of the
ancestor, a 1856 G. Oltram Lyrics (1887) 95 (E.D.D.), I
then attefnpted Villous Intromission, And was immediately
conveyed to prison. Ibid. ai6 Vitious Intromitter.
6. Impaired or spoiled by some fault, flaw,
blemish, or defect ; faulty, defective, imperfect,
bad ; corrupt, impure, debased : a. Of language,
style, spelling, etc. Also trans/, of writers.
1589 Plttenham Eh£. PiHsiem. xxi. (Arb.) 256 It hath
bene said before how . .a good figure may become a vice, and
. .a vicious speach go for a vertue in the Poeticall science.
1638 Baker ir. Balzucs Lett. (vol. II) 208 He shall have
the honour to pur^e his country of a vitious phrase. 1655
Valghan SiUjc Sciiit. i. Pref., The complaint against vitious
verse.. b of some antiquity in this Kingdom. 1695 H.
Wharton in Lau^s li'ks. (1853) V. 371 Atthougii the
orthography be vicious (a matter common to many learned
men m that time). 1711 Shaftksb. Charac. I. 145 Whatever
Quarter we may give to our vicious Poets, or other
Composers of irregular and short-liv'd Works. 1841 W.
Spalding Itai^ ^ It, Isi, 1. 141 His mode of writing was
vicious, rhetoncal, antithetical, and forced. 1883 D, H.
Wheeler By-lVays Lit. 100 It is believed that the Welsh-
Keltic manuscripts are unusually vicious in the texts.
b. Logic. Of arguments, etc.
1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. 11. xiii. § 3. 50 The Induction
which the Logitians speake of;,. their fourme of induction
i say is vtterly vitious and incompetent. 1646 Sir T.Browne
Pseud, Ep. I. iv. 16 If this fallacy be largely taken, it is
committed in any vitious illation, offending the rules of
good consequence. 1697 tr. Bitrgersdicius his Lo^ic^ 11.
viiL 40 If from true premisses follows what is false, it is a
sign that the form of the syllogism is vitious. 1774 Reid
AristotWs Logic v. § 1. 219 The form [of syllogisms] lies
in the necessary connection between the premises and the
coticlusion ; and where such a connection is wanting, they
are said to be informal, or vicious in point of form. 1856
P. E. Dove Logic Christian Faith v. i. 290 We have, .departed
from the region of mind and spirit and introduced
the natural method where the natural method is utterly
vicious and illegitimate. 1864 Bowen Logic vit. 189 It is
not difficult to prove, .that arguments are vicious only when
they fail to observe this method, and are always good when
it is observed.
O. In general use.
1638 Junius Paint. Ancients 228 The uttermost on either
side is vicious. 1650 Bulwer Anthropomet, 4 A vitious
figure of the head is known by sight I7a6 Leoni AlbertCs
Archit, II. 90 b, Rightly supposing that the truth must lie
in some medium between th-^^e two vitious extremes. 1746
Francis tr. Hor., Sat. 11. iii. 35 Here the rudechizzel's rougher
strokes I trac'd ; In flowing brass a vicious hardness found.
18^ Art-Union Jmi, Oct 285 The foundations of the
bndge were originally vicious. 1855 Macaulav Hist. Eng.
xxi. iV. 611 A wooden model of that edifice, the finest spedmen
of a vicious style, was sent to Kensington for his inspection.
1880 Eraser's Mag. May 6^2 Thus the country's
money becomes thoroughly vicious: it breaks down in its
most essential quality.
+ d. Of a person: Wrong, mistaken. Obs.
X604 Shaks. Otk. in. iii. 145 Though I perchance am
vicious in my guesse.
7. Foul, impure, noxious, morbid. ? Obs.
X597 G^^f^v.Tiv. Herbal in. xxxv. 1168 Berries, .full ofclammic
or vicious moisture. x6o8 Iopsell Serpents j88 I'heyr
liner is very vitious, and causeth the whole body to be of lU
temperament. 1641 Milton Reform. 55 Thou.. that art
but a bottle of vitious and harden'd excrements. 1656 J.
Smith Pract. Physick 49 The vicious matter must be evacuated.
1697 Dryden Virg. Georg. iii. 721 Here from the
vicious Air, and sickly Skies, A Plague did on the dumb
Creation rise. x8^i South Otto's Path. Anat. 73 The last
object of pathological anatomy is the consideration of vicious
contents . which have no organic connexion with the animal
body.
fb. Harmful, noxious. Obsr-^
i(^ Earl Monm. tr. BoccalinPsAdvts./r. Parnass. 1. x.
(1674) 12 Those Shops wherein vitious things are sold.
+ 8. Of a part or a function of the body: Morbid,
diseased ; irregular. Obs,
1615 Cbookk Body of Man 304 Who euer saw a conception,
although it were vitious and illegitimate, which was
not couered with a Filme as it were with a Garment ? 1646
Sir T. Browse Pseud. Ep. vii, ii. 342 The vicious excesse
in the number of fingers and toes. 1707 Floyer Physic.
PulsC'Watch 373 The five Members and their Intestines
being changed twice five times by five vitious Pulses. 1733
Cheyne Eng, Malady 11. vii. § 2 (1734) 185 A vitious Liver
seems to be one of the primary,. Causes of Nervous Distempers.
9. Vicious circle, a. Logic, (See sense 6 b and
CiBCLKj^. 19.)
c 179a Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) X. 69/1 He runs into what is
termed by logicians a vicious circle. 1812 Woodhouse
Astron. viiL 52 This seems to be something like arguing in
a vicious circle. 18^ Herschel Stuiy Nat. Phil. 209 It
may seem to be arguing in a vicious circle to have recourse
to observation for any part of those .. conclusions. 1865
MozLEY Mirac. iv. 76 The whole evidence of revelation
becomes a vicious circle. 1876 (see Circle sb. 19].
transf. 1839 Sir H. Holland Med. Notes A Refl. 100
Thus the practice proceeds, in a vicious circle of habit, from
which the patient israrelyextricated without. .injury to his
future health.
b. Path, A morbid process consisting in the
reciprocal continuation and aggravation of one
disorder by another.
1883 Dlscan Clin. Le.t. Dis. IVomen (ed. 2) x. 78 There
ts, in this disease, what is sometimes called a vicious circle,
smd I shall have, in the course of this lecture, to point out
to you several instances of this vicious circle.
184
I
10, Comb.f as viciotts-looking,
1871 ' M. Legrand' Camb. Freshm, 247 The gray mare
expressed her denial, .by giving one or two slight but unconmionly
vicious-looking kicks. 1894 Mrs. Dyan Man's
Ketping{iBgg) 60 Those vicious-looking knives looked as
if they could do such work well.
Viciously (vi'Jasli), adv. Also 4 uioiouseliche,
5 vlcously ; 6-8 (9) vitiously, [f. prec.
-f -LY -.] In a vicious manner,
1. With addiction or inclination to vice ; immorally,
dissolutely.
a 1315 Prose Psalter xlviii. 13 pys her way his sclaunder
to hem ; and efter hij shul plesen uiciouseliche in her
moul>e. C1400 Apol. Loll. 41 .Sum are gostly pore, and
sum bodily ; sum vertuously, and sum vlcously, or synfully;
and sum peynfully. 1415 Hoccleve Addr. to Sir
y. Oldcastle 130, 1 pulte cas, a prelat or a pieest Him
viciously gouerne in his lyuynge. 1446 \.HTiO. Nightingale
Poems i. 285 Moch peple viciously Were in this age dampnably
demeyned. 1509 Barclay Shyp ofFolys {1570) 57 He
was.. Viciously lining in couetise and gyle. 1560 Daus tr.
Sleidane's Comm. 41 b, They live dissolutely and vitiously
at Rome. x6xx Cotgr., Vicieusement, viciously, lewdly,
corruptly, faultily, i68a Sir T. Browne Chr. A/or. i. § 17
(1716) 17 Perversity of Will, immoral and sinfull enormities
..pursue us unto Judgment, and leave us viciously miserable.
1780 CowpER Prog'-. Err. 432 By nature weak, or
viciously inclin'd.
b. In weaker sense : In an improper manner or
to an improper extent ; reprehensibly. Also sfec,
illegally (quot. 1880).
16x7 MoRVSON Itin. III. 17 Many. .are vitiously proud,
that their neighbours should see strangers thus visit them.
Ibid. 35 The Italian being a great and somewhat viciously
curious observer of ceremonious complements. i6ao Venner
Fia Recta (1650) 297 They that against Nature viciously
use the night for the day. 1824 Southey Sir T. More
(1831) II. 200 A practice virtually or rather viciously the
same has been imputed to the Venetian aristocracy. 1880
Muirhead Gains Dig. 512 He eventually prevailed who
proved that he was actually in possession, .and had not
taken it vitiously from his adversary, i.e. cither forcibly,
stealthily, or by refusal.
C. Spitefully, ill-naturedly, savagely; with (or
as with) animosity or intent to injure,
1841 Dickens Bam. Rudge ix, ' I wouldn't,' said Miggs
viciously, 'no, not for five-and-forty pound !' 185a Mrs.
Stowe Uncle Toms C. xxxii, The mill, from which he had
viciously driven two or three tired women, who were waiting
to grind their corn. 187a Rouiledge's Ev, Bo^'s Ann.
114/2 One of the sharp little telegraphic bells rang viciously.
2. Faultily, badly^, incorrectly ; corruptly.
1635-56 Cowley Davideis m. Note §8 Which Lucan
(methinks) avoids viciously by an excess the other way.
1679 Dryden Pref. to Tr. ^ Cres. Ess. (ed. Ker) I. 226 The
thoughts are such as arise from the matter, the expression
of 'em not viciously figurative. x68o Burnet Trav. (1686)
•66 They have the Gospels in Greek Capitals, but they are
vitiously writ in many places. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey),
Viciously, .. covrn-ptXy, falsely, as Viciously ivrit. 1790
Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. gi An assembly, .viciously or
feebly composed in a very great part of it.
Viciousness (vi'J"3snes).
Also 5 vyoyows-,
6 vycyous-, vyciousness(e, 6-8 (9) vitiousness,
etc. [f. Vicious a. + -ness.] The character
or quality of being vicious.
1. Inclination or addiction to vice or immorality
depravity of life or conduct.
x^o J. Shirley Dethe K. James (1818) 5 He wexe full of
viciousness yn his lyvyng. ^ 1440 Promp. Parv. 510/1
Vycyowsnesse, viciositas. X509 Barclay Shyp ofFolys Prol.
avijb, Whan this Socrates perceyued themindes of men
to be prone & extremely inclyned to viciousnes, he had
gret affeccion to subdue suche maners. X56X '1". Norton
Calvin's Inst. 11. 72 We bring with vs from the womb of our
mother a vitiousnesse planted in our begetting. 1598
for naught,
Marston Sco. Villa/tie n. vii. 203 Marke those :
but such lewd viciousnes, Ere graced him. 16x5 G. Sandys
Trav. 218 Venus, ..their goddesse of viciousnesse. 1655
Fuller Ch. Hist. 11. 99 Now began the Saxons to be infected
with an universall Vitiousnesse. 1736 Butler Anal.
1. iii. 72 The., advantage., is gained by the action itself, not
by the morality, the virtuousness or viciousness of it. 1796
Bp. Watson Apol. Bible 379 Some men have been warped
to infidelity by viciousness of life. 1838 Dickens Nich.
Nick, xliv, I never will supply that man's extravagances
and viciousness. x89a Tennyson Foresters ni. i. These be
the lies the people tell of us, Because we seek to curb their
viciousness.
transf. 1^3 Melbancke Philotimns Kivb, Hatefull
viciousnes in wordes, and hurtfull loosenes in life.
b. Tendency, on the part of animals, to be
savage or refractory.
1774 GoLDSM. Nat. Hist. (1824) I. 383 In. .this country.
they [sc, stags] are become less common than formerly; its
excessive viciousness during the rutting season, .inducing
most people to part with the species. 1775 Adair /I w;c/-.
Indians 427 The young ambitious heroes ascribed the whole
disaster to the viciousness of my horse, saying * he was
mad'. 1818 Ranken Hist. France IV. iv. iii. § 2. 267 If
the owner of it [sc. an animal] swore falsely, .that he was
ignorant of its viciousness. 1847 T. Brown Mod. Farriery
XT2 It is not an unfrequent occurrence for horses in harness to
back instead of drawing when first started, and some add to
this considerable viciousness. 1908 Animal Managem. 81
A playful habit of snatchingat the man whilst being groomed
which some horses display, may not come under the head
of viciousness.
c. Maliciousness, spitefulness.
1879 HuxLEV Hume 11. viii. 159 One feels ashamed of having
suspected many excellent persons of being moved by
mere malice and viciousness of temper to call other folks
atheists.
2. The quality of being faulty or defective.
VICISSITUDE.
x6ox Deacon & Walker Spirits ^ Divels 90 The absence,
the vitiousnesse, the depriuation or fault of some other
thing. x64a Fuller Holy S( Prof. St. 11. xvii. 114 Then the
low value shews the viciousnesse of it. X687 M. Clifford
Notes on Dryden's Poems iv. 13, 1 intended to have made
no more Animadversions upon the viciousness of your
Style. 175a Carte Hist. Eng. (1755) III. 763 The arret
above mentioned being repealed, these conservators were to
judge of the goodness or viciousness of cloths.
•f b. Faultiness or badness in respect of physical
constitution. Obs.
X669 Sturmy Mariner's Mag. v. xiL 67 The Brimstone
will burn up the gross victiousness [j/c] of the Salt-peter.
1706 Stevens Span. Diet, i, rVciV, . . Rankness, Viciousness
in Land, or the like.
3. Improper or illegal procedure.
i8oa-ia IJentham Ration. Judic, Evid. (1827) II. 458 In
the ca:^es above brought to view, as cases of unfairness or
vitiousness.
Vici-ssitouB, a. U.S. = Vicissitudinous a.
1865 E. Burritt Walk to Land's A'«rfi65 Acity set upon
such a hill could not have been hidden in the vicissitous experiences
of a nation. 1892 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 9
June, About all of them reach their affluence .. along the
same vicissitous road.
t Vicissitudal, a. Obs. rare. [f. next.] «
VicissiTUDlNAL a. Heucc t Vici'ssitndally adv,
1508 J. Keeper tr. A. Rotnei's Academi i. 7 The sensible
world hath two parts, one subiect to vicissitudal generation
and corruption ;.. the other is the celestiall world. x6ix
Benvenuto's Passenger i. iv. 322 The which sport they con.
tinuing. for foure times vicessitudally [sic] euery day [etc.].
Vicissitude (visi'sitiz^d). [a. OF. and F.
vicissitude (14th c), or ad. L. vicissiludo, f. vicis
turn, change : see Vice sb.^ and prefix. So Sp.
vicisitudi Pg. vicissitude^ It. vicissitudine^
1. The fact of change or mutation taking place
in a particular thing or within a certain sphere
the uncertain changing or mutability ^something.
X570-6 Lamb.\rde Peravib. Kent 105 Richeborowe. .came
to ruine, by the alteration and vicissitude of the Sea.
i6ss Bacon Ess., Vicissitude of Things (Arb.) 570 The Vicissitude
or Mutations, in the Superiour Globe, are no fit
Matter, for this present Argument. x6^o G. Sandys Christ's
/'a«/(Jnin.2680dire VicissitudeofThings ! x6