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.
Syn. — Corrupt; faulty; wicked; depraved.
— Vi″cious‐ly, adv. — Vi″cious‐ness, n.