Word of the Day: HEINOUS

Atrocious or abominable

heinous (adj) - shockingly evil, morally reprehensible, or highly distasteful [hey-nuhs]

• heinousness is atrocity, barbarity, or wickedness

BREAKDOWN: The word heinous comes to modern English almost unchanged from Middle English hainous and before that Old French haïneus, both meaning hateful, unpleasant, or odious. Tracing the word back to Proto-Germanic reveals a common link with the word hate.

“It turns out that one can perpetrate all manner of heinous villainy under a cloak of courtesy and good cheer… a man will forfeit all sensible self-interest if he finds you affable enough to share your company over a flagon of ale.” —Christopher Moore

[Our Wednesday Wildcards are fascinating and important words that are not necessarily derived from classical roots.]