viciously, adv.
(ˈvɪʃəslɪ)
Also 4 uiciouseliche, 5 vicously; 6–8 (9) vitiously.
[f. prec. + -ly2.]
In a vicious manner.
1. With addiction or inclination to vice; immorally, dissolutely.
| a 1325 Prose Psalter xlviii. 13 Þys her way his sclaunder to hem; and efter hij shul plesen uiciouseliche in her mouþe. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 41 Sum are gostly pore, and sum bodily; sum vertuously, and sum vicously, or synfully; and sum peynfully. 1415 Hoccleve Addr. to Sir J. Oldcastle 130, I putte cas, a prelat or a preest Him viciously gouerne in his lyuynge. 1446 Lydg. Nightingale Poems i. 285 Moch peple viciously Were in this age dampnably demeyned. 1509 Barclay Shyp of Folys (1570) 57 He was..Viciously liuing in couetise and gyle. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 41 b, They live dissolutely and vitiously at Rome. 1611 Cotgr., Vicieusement, viciously, lewdly, corruptly, faultily. 1682 Sir T. Browne Chr. Mor. i. §17 (1716) 17 Perversity of Will, immoral and sinfull enormities..pursue us unto Judgment, and leave us viciously miserable. 1780 Cowper Progr. Err. 432 By nature weak, or viciously inclin'd. |
b. In weaker sense: In an improper manner or to an improper extent; reprehensibly. Also spec., illegally (quot. 1880).
| 1617 Moryson Itin. iii. 17 Many..are vitiously proud, that their neighbours should see strangers thus visit them. Ibid. 35 The Italian being a great and somewhat viciously curious observer of ceremonious complements. 1620 Venner Via Recta (1650) 297 They that against Nature viciously use the night for the day. 1824 Southey Sir T. More (1831) II. 200 A practice virtually or rather viciously the same has been imputed to the Venetian aristocracy. 1880 Muirhead Gaius Dig. 512 He eventually prevailed who proved that he was actually in possession..and had not taken it vitiously from his adversary, i.e. either forcibly, stealthily, or by refusal. |
c. Spitefully, ill-naturedly, savagely; with (or as with) animosity or intent to injure.
| 1841 Dickens Barn. Rudge ix, ‘I wouldn't,’ said Miggs viciously, ‘no, not for five-and-forty pound!’ 1852 Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. xxxii, The mill, from which he had viciously driven two or three tired women, who were waiting to grind their corn. 1872 Routledge's Ev. Boy's Ann. 114/2 One of the sharp little telegraphic bels rang viciously. |
2. Faultily, badly, incorrectly; corruptly.
| 1635–56 Cowley Davideis iii. Note §8 Which Lucan (methinks) avoids viciously by an excess the other way. 1679 Dryden Pref. to Tr. & Cres. Ess. (ed. Ker) I. 226 The thoughts are such as arise from the matter, the expression of 'em not viciously figurative. 1680 Burnet Trav. (1686) 266 They have the Gospels in Greek Capitals, but they are vitiously writ in many places. 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Viciously,..corruptly, falsely, as Viciously writ. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 91 An assembly..viciously or feebly composed in a very great part of it. |