different between iniquity vs maliciousness

English

Etymology

From Middle English iniquite, jniquite (“evil, wickedness, iniquity; evil act; hostility, malevolence; hostile act; a calamity, misfortune”), from Old French iniquité (modern French iniquité (“iniquity”)), from Latin in?quit?s (“iniquity; inequality, unfairness; inequity, injustice”), from in?quus (“unequal, uneven, unfair; disadvantageous, unfavourable; hostile, unkind; unsuitable; wicked, wrong”) + -it?s (variant of -t?s (suffix forming a noun indicating a state of being)). In?quus is derived from in- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + aequus (“equal; fair, impartial, just”). Compare inequity.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?n??kw?ti/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?n??kw?ti/, /-kw?-/, [-?i]
• Hyphenation: in?i?qui?ty

Noun

iniquity (countable and uncountable, plural iniquities)

1. (uncountable) Deviation from what is right; gross injustice, sin, wickedness.
2. (countable) An act of great injustice or unfairness; a sinful or wicked act; an unconscionable deed.

Usage notes

The words iniquity and inequity overlap in meaning and have cognate roots, but their usage is differentiated by degree of evil (degree of harm that is large, intentional, or both), as follows: iniquity emphasizes evil, whereas inequity can neutrally describe injustice or unfairness even if it is not extreme or does not stem from conscious intent.

Alternative forms

• iniquitie (obsolete)

Derived terms

• iniquitous
• iniquitously
• iniquitousness

Translations

References

Further reading

• iniquity (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Etymology

malicious +? -ness

Noun

maliciousness (countable and uncountable, plural maliciousnesses)

1. The condition of being malicious; malevolence or malice

Translations