vice meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

vice

noun

UK, US /vaɪs/

Etymology PIE word *dwóh₁ From Middle English vice, from Old French vice, from Latin vitium (“fault or blemish”). Displaced native Old English unþēaw.

Bad or immoral behaviour. (Especially often, a habit that harms oneself or others)

Pride is a vice, not a virtue.
Smoking was a vice Sally picked up in high school.

3 more examples

Shepard: I wear a lot of hats, Mr. Vargas. Some days I shut down criminals. Some days I defuse nukes. Some days I like to enjoy private vices. You understand me?2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Noveria:
It's a rush you can't deny / A little violence is the ultimate drug / Let's get high / You've been powerless to your vices / Self-control defies you2015, “Vices”, in Repentless, performed by Slayer:
I should not be left to my own devices / they come with prices and vices / I end up in crisis / Tale as old as time2022 October 21, Taylor Swift, Jack Antonoff, “Anti-Hero”, in Midnights, performed by Taylor Swift:

Law Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

Government, Law enforcement Abbreviation, Clipping, Slang Clipping of vice squad.

A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.

So a horse with say, navicular disease, making him suitable only for light hacking, would probably be unsound, whereas rearing would be a vice, being a "defect in the temper... making it dangerous". A vice can however render a horse unsound - possibly a crib biter will damage its wind.1839, Scholefield v. Robb; cited in Gilligan, Brenda, Practical Horse Law, 2002, →ISBN:

Derived terms: by vice of, inherent vice, sapphic vice, secret vice, solitary vice, stable vice, vice clause, vice girl, vice squad
Related terms: vicious, vitiate, vitiligo, vituperate, addiction, habit, racket, racketeering, sin tax

vice

adj

Etymology From Latin vice (“in place of”), ablative form of vicis. Compare French fois (“time”) and Spanish vez (“time, turn”).

in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank

vice president
vice admiral

Derived terms: vice admiral, vice governor, vice mayor, vice president, vice-principal

vice

prep

Etymology From Latin vice (“in place of”), ablative form of vicis. Compare French fois (“time”) and Spanish vez (“time, turn”).

Dated Instead of; in place of; versus.

He was gardener and out-door man, vice Upton, resigned.1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XXI, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849, →OCLC:
A very small cab-boy, vice Stoopid retired, swung on behind Foker's vehicle; knock-kneed and in the tightest leather breeches.1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter XXVIII, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume I, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849, →OCLC:

vice

noun

Etymology See vise.

Commonwealth, Alternative Alternative spelling of vise (“mechanical screw apparatus used for clamping”).

A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.

Architecture A winding or spiral staircase.

Obsolete A grip or grasp.

Fang. If I but fiſt him once: if he come but within my Vice.c. 1596–1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 79, line 22:

vice

noun

Etymology From Latin vice (“in place of”), ablative form of vicis. Compare French fois (“time”) and Spanish vez (“time, turn”).

One who acts in place of a superior.

c. 1850s-1870s, Edward Minister and Son, The Gazette of Fashion and Cutting-Room Companion The health of the Vice was proposed in appropriate language; in replying, Mr. Marriott thanked the company […]

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.