flagitious

English

Etymology

Old French flagitieux or Latin flāgitiōsus, both ultimately from flāgitium (“shameful crime”).

Adjective

flagitious (comparative more flagitious, superlative most flagitious)

1. (literary) Extremely brutal or cruel
   • 1716 Nov 7th, quoted from 1742, probably Alexander Pope, God's Revenge Against Punning, from Miscellanies, 3rd volume, page 227:

     This young Nobleman was not only a flagitious Punster himself, but was accessary to the Punning of others, by Consent, by Provocation, by Connivance, and by Defence of the Evil committed;

   • 1959 (1985), Rex Stout, "Assault on a Brownstone", Death Times Three, page 186:

     As he entered he boomed: "Monstrous! Flagitious!"

Synonyms

• infamous
• scandalous
• nefarious
• iniquitous