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upon impropriety; dangerously close to, or suggestive of, what is indecent or of doubtful morality; as, a risqué story. Henry Austin.

With a disposition to impute immorality or wrong. Shun their fault, who, scandalously nice, Will needs mistake an author into vice. Pope.

e, which all men possess in common, and by which they test the truth of knowledge and the morality of actions." (b) "The faculty of first principles." These two are the philosophical significations.

selves general hatred and contempt. Many of the Sophists doubdtless card not for truth or morality, and merely professed to teach how to make the worse appear the better reason; but there scems no reason to hold that they were a special class, teaching special opinions; even Socrates and Plato were sometimes styled Sop…

ating; mere theory; view; notion; conjecture. From him Socrates derived the principles of morality, and most part of his natural speculations. Sir W. temple. To his speculations on these subjects he gave the lofty name of the "Oracles of Reason." Macaulay.

inister, a candidate for the clerical office who fails, disqualified by incompetency or immorality.

roduct of a purifying process. Religion is the perfection, refinement, and sublimation of morality. South.

Fig.: To be guilty of a misstep; to commit an offense against morality, propriety, or rule; to err; to mistake; to fail. "Till his tongue trip." Locke. A blind will thereupon comes to be led by a blind understanding; there is no remedy, but it must trip and stumble. South. Virgil is so exact in every word that none can…

Having no moral perception, quality, or relation; involving no idea of morality; -- distinguished from both moral and immoral. -- Un`mo*ral"i*ty, n.

Not restrained or tutored by morality. Norris.

f or pertaining to utilitarianism; supporting utilitarianism; as, the utilitarian view of morality; the Utilitarian Society. J. S. Mill.

The doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness.

One of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n., 5. You . . . take vanity the puppet's part. Shak.

a defect of natural character, or the result of training and habits; a harmful custom; immorality; depravity; wickedness; as, a life of vice; the vice of intemperance. I do confess the vices of my blood. Shak. Ungoverned appetite . . . a brutish vice. Milton. When vice prevails, and impious men bear sway, The post of…

Having moral excellence; characterized by morality; upright; righteous; pure; as, a virtuous action. The virtuous mind that ever walks attended By a strong siding champion, conscience. Milton.

Evil in principle or practice; deviating from morality; contrary to the moral or divine law; addicted to vice or sin; sinful; immoral; profligate; -- said of persons and things; as, a wicked king; a wicked woman; a wicked deed; wicked designs. Hence, then, and evil go with thee along, Thy offspring, to the place of evi…

anner; in a manner, or with motives and designs, contrary to the divine law or the law of morality; viciously; corruptly; immorally. I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. 2 Sam. xxiv. 17.

departure from the rules of the divine or the moral law; evil disposition or practices; immorality; depravity; sinfulness. God saw that the wickedness of man was great. Gen. vi. 5. Their inward part is very wickedness. Ps. v. 9.