flagrancy
(ˈfleɪgrənsɪ)
[ad. L. flagrantia: see prec. and -ancy.]
1. lit. The quality of being flagrant; glowing or blazing condition. Obs. or arch.
| 1626 Bacon Sylva §722 Lust causeth a Flagrancie in the Eyes. 1822 T. Taylor Apuleius 300 So many various stars are beheld supernally in ether, i.e. in the most clear flagrancy of fire. |
b. fig.
| 1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 240 To draw the modest beauty of a Virgin out of the flagrancy of Harlots. 1650 Trapp Clavis To Bible III. 56 So they dyed in the flagrancy of their lust. |
2. Of an offence, crime, evil, etc.: Heinousness, enormity, outrageousness.
| 1714 Steele Apol. Pref., Polit. Writ. (1715) 215 The Flagrancy and dangerous Consequence of what was doing. 1760 Derrick Lett. (1767) I. 64 A punishment..which was greatly inadequate to the flagrancy of his crime. a 1797 H. Walpole Mem. Geo. III (1845) II. x. 221 Ministers..were borne down by the flagrancy of the provocation. 1810 Bentham Elem. Art of Packing (1821) 245 To do what can be done..towards holding up to view the flagrancy of the disease. |