Wiktionary

iniquitous

English edit

WOTD – 15 November 2023

Etymology edit

From iniquity +‎ -ous (suffix forming adjectives indicating the presence of a quality in any degree (typically an abundance)).[1]

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

iniquitous (comparative more iniquitous, superlative most iniquitous)

  1. Characterized by iniquity (“deviation from what is right”).
    1. Morally objectionable; sinful, wicked.
      Synonyms: nefarious, perverse; see also Thesaurus:evil, Thesaurus:immoral
      Antonyms: righteous; see also Thesaurus:good
      • 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XIII, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, pages 138–139:
        "It certainly is a most iniquitous affair," said Mr. Bennet, "and nothing can clear Mr. Collins from the guilt of inheriting Longbourn. But if you will listen to his letter, you may perhaps be a little softened by his manner of expressing himself."
      • 1855 January 5, Anthony Trollope, “Mr. Bold’s Visit to Plumstead”, in The Warden, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, page 193:
        Are you aware, sir, that we have gone to enormous expense to resist this iniquitous attempt of yours?
      • 1910 October, Jack London, chapter VIII, in Burning Daylight, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company, →OCLC, part II, pages 181–182:
        The storm-centre of a combined newspaper attack lasting for months, Daylight's character had been torn to shreds. There was no fact in his history that had not been distorted into a criminality or a vice. This public making of him over into an iniquitous monster had pretty well crushed any lingering hope he had of getting acquainted with Dede Mason.
    2. Grossly unfair or unjust.
      • 1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author at His Master’s Command Informs Him of the State of England. […]”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. […] [Gulliver’s Travels], volume II, London: […] Benj[amin] Motte, […], →OCLC, part IV (A Voyage to the Houyhnhnms), pages 229–230:
        It is a Maxim among theſe Men, That vvhatever has been done before may legally be done again: And therefore they take ſpecial Care to record all the Deciſions formerly made, even thoſe vvhich have through Ignorance or Corruption contradicted the Rules of common Juſtice, and the general Reaſon of Mankind. Theſe, under the Name of Precedents, they produce as Authorities, and thereby endeavour to juſtify the moſt iniquitous Opinions; […]
      • 1788, Publius [pseudonym; Alexander Hamilton], “Number LXXVIII. A View of the Constitution of the Judicial Department, in Relation to the Tenure of Good Behaviour.”, in The Federalist: A Collection of Essays, Written in Favour of the New Constitution, […] , volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] J. and A. M‘Lean, […], →OCLC, page 297:
        [Judicial independence] operates as a check upon the legiſlative body in paſſing them [unjust and partial laws]; vvho, perceiving that obſtacles to the ſucceſs of an iniquitous intention are to be expected from the ſcruples of the courts, are in a manner compelled by the very motives of the injuſtice they mediate, to qualify their attempts.
      • 1830, Walter Scott, “Letter IX”, in Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft, […], London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, pages 314–315:
        The majority of the jury which tried Barbara Napier, having acquitted her of attendance at the North Berwick meeting, were themselves threatened with a trial for wilful error upon an assize, and could only escape from severe censure and punishment by pleading Guilty, and submitting themselves to the king's pleasure. This rigorous and iniquitous conduct shows a sufficient reason why there should be so few acquittals from a charge of witchcraft, where the juries were so much at the mercy of the Crown.
      • 1887, John Ruskin, “Of Age”, in Præterita. Outlines of Scenes and Thoughts Perhaps Worthy of Memory in My Past Life, volume II, Orpington, Kent: George Allen, →OCLC, page 27:
        There had been a good deal of dealers' yea and nay about it [a watercolour painting], whether it was for sale or not; it was a smaller drawing than most of the England and Wales series, and there were many hints in the market about its being iniquitous in price.
      • 1979 October 5, Blake Edwards, 10, spoken by Neighbor (Don Calfa), Los Angeles, Calif.: Orion Pictures, →OCLC:
        I've had it. That's it George! For one year now, I've been providing X-rated entertainment and you reciprocate with PG! It's an iniquitous arrangement!

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

grossly unfair or unjust — see unfair,‎ unjust

References edit

  1. ^ “iniquitous, adj.”, in OED Online  ⁠, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, July 2023; “iniquitous, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Further reading edit

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