vice English · revision 3847

+ English has three main words spelled ''vice'': the moral fault, from Latin vitium; the clamping tool, from Latin vītis “vine”; and the preposition “in place of”, from Latin vice, which also stands for the prefix [[vice-]], “deputy”.^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)

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+ {{homograph|1|fault}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1297|origins=la vitium}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /vaɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The fault is [[inh|enm|vice]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|vice|t=fault, failing, defect, misdemeanour]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|vitium|t=defect, offence, blemish]], in both physical and moral senses,^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) which is of uncertain origin;^(Etymonline) de Vaan supports a derivation from [[ine-pro|*(d)ui-tio-|t=apart, wrong]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[vicious]] and [[vitiate]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Depravity, corruption of morals: 1297 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and the 13th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A particular sin is from the mid-14th century;^(Etymonline) in Old French the seven deadly sins were ''les set vices''.^(Etymonline) A minor moral fault or flaw, a bad habit, is from 1338 in the OED^(OED 1989) and the late 14th century in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) and a physical defect from about 1386.^(OED 1989) The Vice was a character in the morality plays, a buffoon, from 1551–2.^(OED 1989) A horse's bad habit is from 1726.^(OED 1989) The ''vice squad'', a police unit dealing with prostitution, drugs and gambling, was introduced in New York City in 1905.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – depravity.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1338 – a moral flaw.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-14th century – a particular sin.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1551–2 – the Vice of the morality plays.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1726 – a bad habit in a horse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1905 – ''vice squad''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An evil or immoral habit or practice.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Wicked conduct; [[corruption]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Criminal or immoral activity such as [[prostitution]] or drug dealing.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A minor personal failing; a [[foible]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A flaw or defect.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vicious]]

+ * [[vice squad]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|tool}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=early 14th century|origins=la vītis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /vaɪs/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The tool, spelled [[vise]] in American English, is [[inh|enm|vys]],^(Barnhart 1988) [[bor|xno|vice]], Old French vis, viz “screw”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) the nominative of a lost oblique case *vit,^(Barnhart 1988) from [[la|vītis|t=vine, tendril of a vine]], literally “that which winds”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) from the root of [[m|la|viēre|t=to bind, twist]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*wei-|t=to turn, twist, bend]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[withy]].^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A device like a screw or winch for bending a crossbow or catapult: probably before 1300 in Barnhart,^(Barnhart 1988) the early 14th century in Etymonline, also a winch or crane for lifting,^(Etymonline) and the 14th century in the OED.^(OED 1989) A winding staircase is from 1334–5.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English also used the word of the newel of a spiral staircase, the screw of a press and a twisted tie fastening a hood under the chin.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A screw is from 1412–20.^(OED 1989) The tool with two jaws opened and closed by a screw, to hold an object firmly while working on it, is from about 1500,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) or the 16th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) The verb, to hold in a vice, is from 1602.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1300 – a winch for a crossbow.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1334–5 – a spiral staircase.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1412–20 – a screw.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1500 – the clamping tool.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1602 – verb.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A tool with two jaws closed by a screw or lever, used to hold an object firmly while it is worked on.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To hold or squeeze as if in a vice.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[vicelike]]

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+ {{homograph|3|in place of}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1597|origins=la vicis}}

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+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈvaɪ.si/, US /ˈvaɪ.sə/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The preposition is [[bor|la|vice|t=in the place of]], ablative of [[m|la|vicis|t=change, alternation, stead]],^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) a noun found only in oblique forms.^(Hoad 1986) The noun, a deputy, is the noun use of the prefix [[vice-]], from the same Latin word.^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[vicar]], [[vicarious]] and [[vicissitude]].^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The noun, one who acts in the place of another, a deputy: 1597 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The preposition, “in place of, in succession to”, is from 1770,^(OED 1989) or the 18th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In more recent use the noun stands for a title with ''vice-'' whose second element is implied by the context, such as vice-chancellor or vice president.^(Hoad 1986)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1597 – a deputy.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – stead, place.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1770 – preposition, in place of.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Preposition===

+ # In place of; succeeding: ''appointed vice the late director''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(informal)'' A person who acts in place of another; a [[deputy]], such as a [[vice president]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[vitiate]]

+ * [[vituperate]]

+ * [[vise]]

+ * [[vicar]]

+ * [[vicarious]]

+ * [[vicissitude]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In Somerset, Devon and Cornwall dialect ''vice'' was a form of [[fist]].^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}