Word of the Day

Thursday, January 31, 2002

nefarious

\nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs\ , adjective;

Wicked in the extreme; iniquitous.

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Quotes:

Despite involvement in protection, narcotics, strong-arm debt collecting, strikebreaking, and blackmail, among other nefarious activities, all of them professed to be a cut above mobsters in other lands.

-- Robert Whiting, Tokyo Underworld

The liar, however, can become a truly subversive and scandalous figure, whose nefarious influence may extend far more widely than her own individual actions.

-- John Forrester, Truth Games

Origin:

Nefarious is from Latin nefarius, from nefas, "that which is contrary to divine command; a crime, transgression, sin," from ne-, "not" + fas, "divine command or law."