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flagitious

adjective
fla·​gi·​tious | \ flÉ™-ˈji-shÉ™s How to pronounce flagitious (audio) \

Definition of flagitious

: marked by scandalous crime or vice : villainous
Other Words from flagitious Did You Know? Learn More about flagitious

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Other Words from flagitious

flagitiously adverb
flagitiousness noun

Did You Know?

Flagitious derives from the Latin noun flagitium, meaning "shameful thing," and is akin to the Latin noun flagrum, meaning "whip." "Flagrum" is also the source of "flagellate" ("to whip" or "to scourge"), but despite the superficial resemblance it is not the source of flagrant, meaning "conspicuously bad." "Flagrant" and its cousins derive instead from Latin flagrare, meaning "to burn." "Flagitious" first appeared in the late 14th century, and it was originally applied to people who were horribly criminal or wicked. These days, it can also describe intangibles, such as actions ("flagitious promiscuity"), ideas ("a flagitious notion"), and principles ("flagitious motives").

First Known Use of flagitious

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for flagitious

Middle English flagicious, from Latin flagitiosus, from flagitium shameful thing

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Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with flagitious

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