Etymology Map
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Vicious

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means deliberately cruel or violent

Where does the word "vicious" come from? It comes from Latin vitiosus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
vitiosus
Latin · ancient
"faulty, full of vice"
from 'vitium', fault, the root of 'vice'
2
Stage 2 of 3
vicious
Old French · medieval
"wicked"
meant morally corrupt
3
Stage 3 of 3
vicious
English · 1300s
"wicked"
'vicious circle' dates from the 1790s
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Read the full story

Vicious’s story begins in Latin: vitiosus meant “faulty, full of vice.” From 'vitium', fault, the root of 'vice'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vicious. Meant morally corrupt. It reached English by 1300s as vicious. 'vicious circle' dates from the 1790s. Today, vicious means deliberately cruel or violent.