different between enormity vs abomination

English

Etymology

From Late Middle English ?norme (“monstrous or unnatural act; enormity”), from Old French énormité (“enormity”), from Latin ?normit?s (“irregularity; enormity”), from ?n?rmis (“irregular, unusual; enormous, immense”) + -it?s (suffix forming nouns indicating states of being). ?n?rmis is derived from e- (a variant of ex- (prefix meaning ‘out; away’) + n?rma (“norm, standard”) + -is (Latin suffix forming adjectives from nouns).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??n??m?ti/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??n??m?ti/, /-?i/
• Hyphenation: enorm?i?ty

Noun

enormity (countable and uncountable, plural enormities)

1. (obsolete) Deviation from what is normal or standard; irregularity, abnormality.
2. (uncountable) Deviation from moral normality; extreme wickedness, nefariousness, or cruelty. [from 15th c.]
3. (countable) A breach of law or morality; a transgression, an act of evil or wickedness. [from 15th c.]
4. (uncountable) Great size; enormousness, hugeness, immenseness. [from 18th c.]

Usage notes

Enormity as a synonym for enormousness is sometimes considered an error, though other usage guides hold that there is little basis for the distinction. Both words ultimately go back to the same Latin source word ?n?rmis meaning “deviating from the norm, abnormal”.

Synonyms

• (deviation from what is normal or standard): anomalousness, oddness, weirdness; see also Thesaurus:strangeness
• (deviation from moral normality): atrociousness, depravity, immorality; see also Thesaurus:villainy
• (a breach of law or morality): desecration, violation
• (great size): immensity, prodigiousness

Related terms

Translations

References

English

Alternative forms

• abhomination (obsolete)
• abominacioun (obsolete)

Etymology

First attested around 1350. From Middle English abominacioun, from Middle French abomination (“horror, disgust”), from Late Latin ab?min?ti? (“abomination”); ab (“away from”) + ?min?r? (“prophesy, foreboding”), from ?men (“omen”). Doublet of abominatio.abominate +? -ion

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, US) IPA^(key): /??b?m.??ne?.?n?/, /??b?m.??ne?.?n?/
• Rhymes: -e???n

Noun

abomination (countable and uncountable, plural abominations)

1. (countable) An abominable act; a disgusting vice; a despicable habit. [First attested around 1150 to 1350.]
2. (uncountable) The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

   Synonyms: abhorrence, aversion, detestation, disgust, loathing, loathsomeness, odiousness

3. (obsolete, uncountable) A state that excites detestation or abhorrence; pollution. [Attested from around 1350-1470 to the late 15^th century.]
4. (countable) That which is abominable, shamefully vile; an object that excites disgust and hatred; very often with religious undertones. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]

   Synonym: perversion

Translations

References

• abomination in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Etymology

From Late Latin abominationem

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.b?.mi.na.sj??/

Noun

abomination f (plural abominations)

1. Something vile and abominable; an abomination.
2. (chiefly religion) Revulsion, abomination, disgust.

Further reading

• “abomination” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).