Word of the DayTuesday, March 18, 2008

nefarious

\nuh-FAIR-ee-uhs\ , adjective:
1.
Wicked in the extreme; iniquitous.
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."
Get Word of the Day
Free Email Sign Up
Other Delivery Options:
SMS-Text WDAY to 44636.
Standard messaging rates apply
RSS
Facebook
iPhone
Twitter
Widget
Spanish