n. 1. a. A practice or habit considered to be evil, degrading, or immoral: the vices of smoking and drinking. b. Wicked or depraved conduct or habits; corruption: "sharpers, desperadoes, pirates, and criminals steeped in vice" (Carl Holliday). 2. Prostitution, the sale of illegal drugs, and certain other forms of usually nonviolent criminal behavior. 3. a. A slight personal failing; a foible: the vice of untidiness. b. A flaw or imperfection; a defect: "Lady Hester remarked on the vice in his looks" (Edna O'Brien). 4. a. Vice A character representing generalized or particular vice in English morality plays. b. A jester or buffoon. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vitium.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. & v. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
vi·ce 3 (vīsē, -sə)
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Tweet prep. In place of; replacing: Ms. Fine acted as treasurer, vice Mr. Smith. [Latin ablative of *vix, change; see VICE-.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
vice-
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Tweet pref. One who acts in the place of another; deputy: vice-chairman. [Middle English, from Old French vis-, vice-, from Late Latin vice-, from Latin vice, ablative of *vix, change; see weik-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.