1.
[syn: outrageousness, enormity]
2. vastness of size or extent;
- Example: "in careful usage the noun enormity is not used to express the idea of great size"
- Example: "universities recognized the enormity of their task"
3. the quality of extreme wickedness;
4. an act of extreme wickedness;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Enormity \E*nor"mi*ty\, n.; pl. Enormities. [L. enormitas, fr.
enormis enormous: cf. F. ['e]normit['e]. See Enormous.]
1. The state or quality of exceeding a measure or rule, or of
being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous.
[1913 Webster]
The enormity of his learned acquisitions. --De
Quincey.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which is enormous; especially, an exceeding offense
against order, right, or decency; an atrocious crime;
flagitious villainy; an atrocity.
[1913 Webster]
These clamorous enormities which are grown too big
and strong for law or shame. --South.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
enormity
n 1: the quality of being outrageous [syn: outrageousness,
enormity]
2: vastness of size or extent; "in careful usage the noun
enormity is not used to express the idea of great size";
"universities recognized the enormity of their task"
3: the quality of extreme wickedness
4: an act of extreme wickedness