English vice

Meaning

  1. Euphemistic form of gluttony, overeating.
  2. Euphemistic form of hypocrisy.
  3. Euphemistic form of moralism, particularly vacuous, base, and tedious moralism.
  4. Euphemistic form of snobbishness, particularly sentimental royalism and deference to class and aristocracy.
  5. Euphemistic form of complacency, particularly casual complacency towards corruption.
  6. Euphemistic form of sadomasochism, particularly flagellation (whipping and spanking).
  7. Euphemistic form of adultery, particularly with domestic trappings resembling a second household.
  8. Euphemistic form of homosexuality.
  9. Euphemistic form of oppression, particularly with regard to the poor.
  10. Euphemistic form of drunkenness

base

sadomasochism

  1. (uncountable, usually) The practices of sadism and masochism collectively, usually in reference to consensual practices within the BDSM community.
  2. (uncountable, usually) Sadism and masochism: the (often sexual) enjoyment by one person of both inflicting and receiving pain.

homosexuality

  1. (uncountable) The state of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to persons of the same sex, sometimes (potentially offensive) restricted to same-sex attraction between males.
  2. (uncountable) Sexual activity with a person of the same sex, sometimes (potentially offensive) restricted to same-sex sex between males.

drunkenness

A state of being drunk.

adultery

  1. (countable, uncountable) Sexual intercourse by a married person with someone other than their spouse. See more synonyms at Thesaurus:cuckoldry
  2. (broadly, countable, uncountable) Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by the sixth/seventh commandment; sinful sexual behavior as a category.
  3. (countable, uncountable) Faithlessness in religion.
  4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) The fine and penalty formerly imposed for the offence of adultery.
  5. (countable, uncountable) The intrusion of a person into a bishopric during the life of the bishop.
  6. (countable, uncountable) Adulteration; corruption.
  7. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Injury; degradation; ruin.

hypocrisy

  1. (countable, uncountable) The contrivance of a false appearance of virtue or goodness, while concealing real character or inclinations, especially with respect to religious and moral beliefs; hence in general sense, dissimulation, pretence, sham.
  2. (countable, uncountable) The claim or pretense of having beliefs, standards, qualities, behaviours, virtues, motivations, etc. which one does not really have.
  3. (countable, uncountable) The practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticises another; moral self-contradiction whereby the behavior of one or more people belies their own claimed or implied possession of certain beliefs, standards or virtues.
  4. (countable, uncountable) An instance of hypocrisy.

oppression

  1. (countable, uncountable) The exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner.
  2. (countable, uncountable) The act of oppressing, or the state of being oppressed.
  3. (countable, uncountable) A feeling of being oppressed.

complacency

  1. (countable, uncountable) A feeling of contented self-satisfaction, especially when unaware of upcoming trouble.
  2. (countable, uncountable) An instance of self-satisfaction.
  3. (countable, uncountable) Passivity as a result of contentment with the current situation.

gluttony

The vice of eating to excess.

snobbishness

  1. (uncountable) The state or quality of being snobbish.
  2. (countable) The result or product of being snobbish.

overeating

moralism

  1. (derogatory, often, uncountable, usually) The act or practice of moralizing (making moral reflections or judging the morality of others).
  2. (countable, derogatory, often, usually) A maxim or saying believed by the speaker to embody a moral truth; an instance of moralizing.
  3. (dated, uncountable, usually) Religious practice that focuses on morality while placing little emphasis on doctrine or the metaphysical; adherence to a system of morality with little or no reference to religion.

Etymology

From various authors' descriptions of certain vices as particularly common or representative among the English.

Notes

Sign in to write sticky notes