vice

Meanings

Noun

• A bad habit.
• Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
• A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.
• Alternate spelling of vise
• A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.
• A winding or spiral staircase.
• A grip or grasp.
• One who acts in place of a superior.

Verb

• Alternate spelling of vise

Adjective

• in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank

Related

Opposite words

• virtue

Origin

• From Middle English vice, from Old French vice, from Latin vitium ("fault or blemish"). Displaced native Old English unþēaw.
• See vise.
• From Latin vice ("in place of"), ablative form of vicis. Compare French fois ("time") and Spanish vez ("time, turn").