enormity

Meaning

Noun

• Deviation from what is normal or standard; irregularity, abnormality.
• Deviation from moral normality; extreme wickedness, nefariousness, or cruelty.
• A breach of law or morality; a transgression, an act of evil or wickedness.
• Great size; enormousness, hugeness, immenseness.

Related

Similar words

• desecration, violation
• immensity, prodigiousness

Origin

• From Late Middle English ēnorme ("monstrous or unnatural act; enormity"), from Old French énormité ("enormity"), from Latin ēnormitās ("irregularity; enormity"), from ēnōrmis + -itās (suffix forming nouns indicating states of being). Ēnōrmis is derived from e- (a variant of ex- (prefix meaning ‘out; away’) + nōrma + -is (Latin suffix forming adjectives from nouns).