different between pernicious vs flagitious

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French pernicios, from Latin pernici?sus (“destructive”), from pernici?s (“destruction”), from per (“through”) + nex (“slaughter, death”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /p??n???s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /p??n???s/

• Rhymes: -???s

Adjective

pernicious (comparative more pernicious, superlative most pernicious)

1. Causing much harm in a subtle way.

   Synonym: deleterious
2. Causing death or injury; deadly.

   Synonym: attery

Derived terms

• perniciousness
• perniciously

Related terms

• pernicious anemia

Translations

Anagrams

• superionic

English

Etymology

Old French flagitieux or Latin fl?giti?sus, both ultimately from fl?gitium (“shameful crime”), related to flagrum (“whip”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fl??d????s/

Adjective

flagitious (comparative more flagitious, superlative most flagitious)

1. (literary) Guilty of terrible crimes; wicked, criminal.
   • 1716 Nov 7th, quoted from 1742, probably Alexander Pope, God's Revenge Against Punning, from Miscellanies, 3rd volume, page 227:

     This young Nobleman was not only a flagitious Punster himself, but was accessary to the Punning of others, by Consent, by Provocation, by Connivance, and by Defence of the Evil committed […] .
2. (literary) Extremely brutal or wicked; heinous, monstrous.

   Synonyms: infamous, scandalous, nefarious, iniquitous

   • 1959 (1985), Rex Stout, "Assault on a Brownstone", Death Times Three, page 186:

     As he entered he boomed: "Monstrous! Flagitious!"

References