different between expanse vs enormity

English

Etymology

From Latin expansum, from expand?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?spæns/, /?k?spæns/

Noun

expanse (plural expanses)

1. A wide stretch, usually of sea, sky, or land.
2. An amount of spread or stretch.

Related terms

• expand
• expansion

Translations

Latin

Participle

exp?nse

1. vocative masculine singular of exp?nsus

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