Flagitious
/fləˈdʒɪʃəs/ adj
adj ·Uncommon ·College level
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Guilty of terrible crimes; wicked, criminal. literary
"This young Nobleman was not only a flagitious Punster himself, but was accessary to the Punning of others, by Consent, by Provocation, by Connivance, and by Defence of the Evil committed […] ."
- 2 Extremely brutal or wicked; heinous, monstrous. literary
"But if in Noble Minds ſome Dregs remain, / Not yet purg'd off, of Spleen and ſow'r Diſdain, / Diſcharge that Rage on more Provoking Crimes, / Nor fear a Dearth on theſe Flagitious Times."
Adjective
- 1 shockingly brutal or cruel wordnet
- 2 extremely wicked, deeply criminal wordnet
Example
More examples"Manners were not flagitious, they were merely of a nauseous insipidity."
Etymology
From Old French flagitieux or Latin flāgitiōsus, both ultimately from flāgitium (“shameful crime”), related to flagrum (“whip”).