different between vicious vs venomous

English

Alternative forms

• vitious (obsolete)

Etymology

From Middle English vicious, from Anglo-Norman vicious, (modern French vicieux), from Latin viti?sus, from vitium (“fault, vice”). Equivalent to vice +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?v???s/
• Rhymes: -???s

Adjective

vicious (comparative viciouser or more vicious, superlative viciousest or most vicious)

1. Violent, destructive and cruel.
2. Savage and aggressive.
3. (archaic) Pertaining to vice; characterised by immorality or depravity.
   • , Folio Society, 2006, vol.1, p.195:

     We may so seize on vertue, that if we embrace it with an over-greedy and violent desire, it may become vicious.

Synonyms

• scathy

Derived terms

• vicious circle

Related terms

• See vice#Related_terms

Translations

Middle English

Etymology

Borrowed from Anglo-Norman vicious, from Latin viti?sus; equivalent to vice +? -ous.

Alternative forms

• viciows, vicius, vycious, vycyus, vicyous, vecyous, vysyous, vycios, vycyous, vicyows

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /visi?u?s/, /vis?ju?s/, /?visjus/

Adjective

vicious (plural and weak singular viciouse)

1. Iniquitous, sinful, wicked (often in a way that causes harm or vice to/in others)
2. (rare) Lacking purity or cleanness; spoiled or defiled.
3. (rare) Inaccurate, modified, or debased; of substandard quality.
4. (rare) Injurious, dangerous; causing serious harm.

Descendants

• English: vicious
• Scots: veecious

References

• “vici?us, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-03-01.

Old French

Etymology

From Latin viti?sus;

Adjective

vicious m (oblique and nominative feminine singular viciouse)

1. vicious; malicious
2. defective; not capable of functioning

Declension

Descendants

• Middle English: vicious, viciows, vicius, vycious, vycyus, vicyous, vecyous, vysyous, vycios, vycyous, vicyows
  • English: vicious
  • Scots: veecious

References

• vicios on the Anglo-Norman On-Line Hub

English

Etymology

From Middle English venemous, venymous, from Anglo-Norman venimus, from venin. Cf. Latin ven?n?sus. Equivalent to venom +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?v?n?m?s/

Adjective

venomous (comparative more venomous, superlative most venomous)

1. Full of venom.

2. Toxic; poisonous.
   • c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Again?t venemous tongues enpoy?oned with ?claunder and fal?e detractions &c.:

     More venemous and much more virulent
     Then any poy?oned tode, or any ?erpent.

3. Noxious; evil.
4. Malignant; spiteful; hateful.

5. Producing venom (a toxin usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging) in glands or accumulating venom from food.

6. powerful

Usage notes

See poisonous#Usage notes.

Synonyms

• noxious
• poisonous
• toxic

Antonyms

• non-venomous

Translations

References

• “venomous” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• venomous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.