I. ˈwikə̇d adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English, alteration (influenced by -ed ) of wicke wicked
1. : evil in character, behavior, tendency, or influence : being or acting contrary to moral or divine law : sinful , bad
a wicked ruler
the wicked stepmother
a wicked deed
a wicked intent
a wicked book
a wicked law
so simple and trustful … it would be wicked to hurt her — Mary Webb
2.
a. : having a bad disposition : intractable , vicious — used especially of an animal
a wicked horse
b. : inclined to mischief ; especially : playfully or engagingly mischievous : roguish
smiling … at the wicked , witty little girl — Jean Stafford
c. : open to censure : wrong , reprehensible
however wicked it may be to try to shock the public — Clive Bell
d. : verging on the indecent : improper , risqué
sing wicked lyrics in the corners of the bar — Horace Sutton
e. : showing or expressing ill will : malevolent , malicious
a wicked look
a woman with a wicked tongue in her head
a wicked anecdote
a cauldron of wicked gossip — L.P.Smith
3.
a.
(1) : disgustingly unpleasant ; especially : offensive to the smell or taste : vile
a gas with a wicked odor
(2) archaic : poor in quality
they talk wicked French — Horace Walpole
b. archaic : poisonous , noxious
wicked dew … from unwholesome fen — Shakespeare
c. : causing or likely to cause harm : dangerous
a wicked storm
the wicked horns of a bull
d. : difficult to pass through or over : almost impassable or impenetrable
find their way over the wicked roads — C.G.Bowers
the wicked sort of scrub jungle — Edison Marshall
e. : causing discomfort or distress : severe
suffering through wicked winter weather
a wicked headache
f. : causing annoyance : troublesome , vexatious
a wicked growth of weeds
4.
a. : going beyond reasonable limits : outrageous , terrible
had a wicked fire loss
a wicked shame
charged wicked prices
a wicked examination
was game to take a wicked amount of punishment — Althea Gibson
b.
(1) : showing impressive or formidable skill : excellent
plays a wicked game of bridge
dances a wicked Charleston — Bookman
(2) : difficult to cope with or to compete against
a wicked drive
Synonyms: see bad
II. noun
( plural wicked )
Etymology: Middle English, from wicked (I)
: a wicked person — usually used in plural with the
the wicked are made to suffer — Publishers' Weekly
III. adverb
Etymology: Middle English, from wicked (I)
chiefly dialect : wickedly
IV. |wikt adjective
Etymology: wick (I) + -ed
: having a wick — used chiefly in combination
a two- wicked lamp
V. adverb
: very : extremely