Vi"cious (?), a. [OF. vicious, F. vicieux, fr. L. vitiosus, fr. vitium vice. See Vice a fault.]
1.
Characterized by vice or defects; defective; faulty; imperfect.
Though I perchance am vicious in my guess.
Shak.
The title of these lords was vicious in its origin.
Burke.
A charge against Bentley of vicious reasoning.
De Quincey.
2.
Addicted to vice; corrupt in principles or conduct; depraved; wicked; as, vicious children; vicious examples; vicious conduct.
Who . . . heard this heavy curse,
Servant of servants, on his vicious race.
Milton.
3.
Wanting purity; foul; bad; noxious; as, vicious air, water, etc.
Dryden.
4.
Not correct or pure; corrupt; as, vicious language; vicious idioms.
5.
Not well tamed or broken; given to bad tricks; unruly; refractory; as, a vicious horse.
6.
Bitter; spiteful; malignant.
[Colloq.]
Syn. -- Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved.
-- Vi"cious*ly, adv. -- Vi"cious*ness, n.
© Webster 1913.