vice

The definition of a vice is a weakness in morality or bad habit.

(noun)

An example of vice is someone having a gambling problem.

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See vice in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

    1. an evil or wicked action, habit, or characteristic
    2. evil or wicked conduct or behavior; depravity or corruption
    3. prostitution
    4. in old English morality plays, a character, often a buffoon, representing a vice or vice in general
  1. any trivial fault or failing, act of self-indulgence, etc.
  2. a defect or flaw, as in a work of art
  3. any physical or functional defect or imperfection of the body
  4. a bad or harmful trick or habit, as of a horse or dog

Origin: ME < OFr < L vitium, vice, fault < IE base *wi-, apart, in two > with, Sans viṣu-, in opposite directions

in the place of; as the deputy or successor of

Origin: L: see vice-

noun, transitive verb

Brit. vise

one who acts in the place of; subordinate; deputy: vice-president, viceregal

Origin: < L vice, in the place of another, abl. of *vix: see vicar

See vice in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. a. An evil, degrading, or immoral practice or habit.
    b. A serious moral failing.
    c. Wicked or evil conduct or habits; corruption.
  2. Sexual immorality, especially prostitution.
  3. a. A slight personal failing; a foible: the vice of untidiness.
    b. A flaw or imperfection; a defect.
  4. A physical defect or weakness.
  5. An undesirable habit, such as crib-biting, in a domestic animal.
  6. a. Vice A character representing generalized or particular vice in English morality plays.
    b. A jester or buffoon.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin vitium

.

noun & v.
Variant of vise.

preposition
In place of; replacing.

Origin:

Origin: Latin

Origin: ablative of *vix, change; see vice-

.

prefix
One who acts in the place of another; deputy: vice-chairman.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French vis-, vice-

Origin: , from Late Latin vice-

Origin: , from Latin vice

Origin: , ablative of *vix, change; see weik-2 in Indo-European roots

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