clipped from dictionary.reference.com

Word of the Day

Monday, January 11, 2010

flagitious, adjective

1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.

2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of persons.

3. Characterized by enormous crimes or scandalous vices; as, "flagitious times."

Quotes:

However flagitious may be the crime of conspiring to subvert by force the government of our country, such conspiracy is not treason.

-- Ex parte Bollman & Swartwout, 4 Cranch 126 (1807)

The Grinch, a nefarious, flagitious, sly, nasty, troublesome, bad-tempered, intolerant and foul-smelling character who, for reasons never fully explained, lives in a cave above the town.

-- Robin Greer, "Carrey Christmas", News Letter, December 1, 2000

These men were reported to be heretics . . . , seducers of youth, and men of flagitious life.

-- Isaac Taylor, History of the World

Origin:

Flagitious comes from Latin flagitiosus, from flagitium, "a shameful or disgraceful act," originally, "a burning desire, heat of passion," from flagitare, "to demand earnestly or hotly," connected with flagrare, "to blaze, to burn."