I. ˈvīs noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin vitium fault, vice
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : moral depravity or corruption : wickedness
b. : a moral fault or failing
c. : a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming : foible
suffered from the vice of curiosity
2. : blemish , defect
3. : a physical imperfection, deformity, or taint
4.
a. often capitalized : a character representing one of the vices in an English morality play
b. : buffoon , jester
5. : an abnormal behavior pattern in a domestic animal detrimental to its health or usefulness
6. : sexual immorality ; especially : prostitution
Synonyms: see fault , offense
II.
chiefly British variant of vise
III. ˈvīs also ˈvī-sē preposition
Etymology: Latin, ablative of vicis change, alternation, stead — more at week
Date: 1770
: in the place of
I will preside, vice the absent chairman
also : rather than