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iniquity

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iniquity

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Iniquity  \In*iq"ui*ty\,  n.;  pl  {Iniquities}.  [OE.  iniquitee  F. 
  iniquit['e],  L.  iniquitas  inequality,  unfairness,  injustice. 
  See  {Iniquous}.] 
  1.  Absence  of  or  deviation  from  just  dealing;  want  of 
  rectitude  or  uprightness;  gross  injustice; 
  unrighteousness;  wickedness;  as  the  iniquity  of  bribery; 
  the  iniquity  of  an  unjust  judge. 
 
  Till  the  world  from  his  perfection  fell  Into  all 
  filth  and  foul  iniquity.  --Spenser. 
 
  2.  An  iniquitous  act  or  thing  a  deed  of  injustice  o? 
  unrighteousness;  a  sin;  a  crime.  --Milton. 
 
  Your  iniquities  have  separated  between  you  and  your 
  God.  --Is.  lix.  2. 
 
  3.  A  character  or  personification  in  the  old  English 
  moralities,  or  moral  dramas,  having  the  name  sometimes  of 
  one  vice  and  sometimes  of  another.  See  {Vice}. 
 
  Acts  old  Iniquity,  and  in  the  fit  Of  miming  gets  the 
  opinion  of  a  wit.  --B.  Jonson 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Vice  \Vice\,  n.  [F.,  from  L.  vitium.] 
  1.  A  defect;  a  fault;  an  error;  a  blemish;  an  imperfection; 
  as  the  vices  of  a  political  constitution;  the  vices  of  a 
  horse. 
 
  Withouten  vice  of  syllable  or  letter.  --Chaucer. 
 
  Mark  the  vice  of  the  procedure.  --Sir  W. 
  Hamilton. 
 
  2.  A  moral  fault  or  failing;  especially,  immoral  conduct  or 
  habit,  as  in  the  indulgence  of  degrading  appetites; 
  customary  deviation  in  a  single  respect,  or  in  general, 
  from  a  right  standard,  implying  a  defect  of  natural 
  character,  or  the  result  of  training  and  habits;  a  harmful 
  custom;  immorality;  depravity;  wickedness;  as  a  life  of 
  vice;  the  vice  of  intemperance. 
 
  I  do  confess  the  vices  of  my  blood.  --Shak. 
 
  Ungoverned  appetite  .  .  .  a  brutish  vice.  --Milton. 
 
  When  vice  prevails,  and  impious  men  bear  sway,  The 
  post  of  honor  is  a  private  station.  --Addison. 
 
  3.  The  buffoon  of  the  old  English  moralities,  or  moral 
  dramas,  having  the  name  sometimes  of  one  vice,  sometimes 
  of  another,  or  of  Vice  itself  --  called  also  {Iniquity}. 
 
  Note:  This  character  was  grotesquely  dressed  in  a  cap  with 
  ass's  ears,  and  was  armed  with  a  dagger  of  lath:  one  of 
  his  chief  employments  was  to  make  sport  with  the  Devil, 
  leaping  on  his  back  and  belaboring  him  with  the  dagger 
  of  lath  till  he  made  him  roar.  The  Devil,  however, 
  always  carried  him  off  in  the  end  --Nares. 
 
  How  like  you  the  Vice  in  the  play?  .  .  .  I  would 
  not  give  a  rush  for  a  Vice  that  has  not  a  wooden 
  dagger  to  snap  at  everybody.  --B.  Jonson 
 
  Syn:  Crime;  sin;  iniquity;  fault.  See  {Crime}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  iniquity 
  n  1:  absence  of  moral  or  spiritual  values;  "the  powers  of 
  darkness"  [syn:  {wickedness},  {darkness},  {dark}] 
  2:  morally  objectionable  behavior  [syn:  {evil},  {immorality},  {wickedness}] 
  3:  an  unjust  act  [syn:  {injustice},  {unfairness}]




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