egregious
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Latin prefix e- (“out of”), + grex (“flock”), + English adjective suffix -ous, from Latin suffix -osus (“full of”); reflecting the positive connotations of "standing out from the flock".
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɪˈɡriː.dʒəs/, /əˈɡriː.dʒi.əs/, SAMPA: /I"gri:dZ@s/, /@"gri:dZI@s/
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Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -iːdʒəs
[edit] Adjective
egregious (comparative more egregious, superlative most egregious)
- Exceptional, conspicuous, outstanding, most usually in a negative fashion.
- The student has made egregious errors on the examination.
- 16thC, Christopher Marlowe, Ignoto,
- I cannot cross my arms, or sigh "Ah me," / "Ah me forlorn!" egregious foppery! / I cannot buss thy fill, play with thy hair, / Swearing by Jove, "Thou art most debonnaire!"
- c1605, William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well, Act 2, Scene 3,
- My lord, you give me most egregious indignity.
- 2009, Sharon Eliza Nichols, I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar: A Collection of Egregious Errors, Disconcerting Bloopers, and Other Linguistic Slip-Ups.
- Outrageously bad.
[edit] Usage notes
The negative meaning arose in the late 16th century, probably originating in sarcasm. Before that, it meant outstanding in a good way. Webster also gives “distinguished” as an archaic form, and notes that its present form often has an unpleasant connotation (e.g., "an egregious error"). It generally precedes such epithets as “rogue,” “rascal,” "ass," “blunderer” – but may also be used for a compliment, or even on its own: “Sir, you are egregious.”
[edit] Translations
Exceptional, conspicuous, outstanding, most usually in a negative fashion
[edit] Related terms
- egregiously (adverb)
- egregia cum laude
- egregion (noun)
- egregore
