Dictionary entry

Egregious

Webster's Dictionary 1913

E‐gre″gious (?; 277), a. [L. egregius; lit., separated or chosen from the herd, i.e., distinguished, excellent; e out + grex, gregis, herd. See Gregarious.] Surpassing; extraordinary; distinguished (in a bad sense); — formerly used with words importing a good quality, but now joined with words having a bad sense; as, an egregious rascal; an egregious ass; an egregious mistake.

The egregious impudence of this fellow. Bp. Hall.

His egregious labors are not to be neglected. Milton.