vice

Where does the word "vice" come from? It comes from Latin vitium, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Vice’s story begins in Latin: vitium meant “a fault, a defect.” A fault, a defect, a flaw. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vice. Carried into French for a moral failing or bad habit. It reached English by 1200s as vice. Settled as the English word for immoral or wicked behavior. Today, vice means immoral or wicked behavior, or a bad habit.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vitium "a fault, a defect", a fault, a defect, a flaw.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval vice "a moral failing, a bad habit", carried into French for a moral failing or bad habit.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s vice "immoral or wicked behavior", settled as the English word for immoral or wicked behavior.