這個拼法底下其實是2個不同的字,意思沒有關係, 只是長得一樣。下面分開列出來。跳到 moral failing · clamping tool

1

vice

n

核心畫面

You can think of vice as a flaw in someone's character — a place where a person falls short of being good, the opposite of a virtue. From this one idea of 'a bad spot in someone' the senses spread out: a small personal weakness when said lightly, and organised around sex and drugs when said by the law.

可以想成 vice 是品格上的一個瑕疵——一個人不夠好的那一塊,正好和 virtue(美德)相反。從「人身上的壞點」更多收起可以想成 vice 是品格上的一個瑕疵——一個人不夠好的那一塊,正好和 virtue(美德)相反。從「人身上的壞點」這個核心,意思往外散開:講得輕鬆時是個人的小毛病,講得嚴肅、由法律來說時,就是和色情、毒品有關的罪惡勾當。

From the word’s history

From Old French 'vice' (fault, failing, defect), from Latin 'vitium' meaning a defect, blemish or imperfection — used for both physical flaws and moral ones. The core 'a flaw, a bad spot' sits right under the modern meaning.

源自古法語 vice(過失、缺陷),再往上是拉丁語 vitium,意思是瑕疵、缺點、不完美,既能指實體的瑕疵也能指道德的缺陷。「一個瑕疵、一個壞掉的點」這個核心,正好托住了現代的用法。

etymonline.com/word/vice; Wiktionary 'vitium'

From the picture

色情毒品犯罪

把「道德上的惡」收窄到法律和警察的用語:社會認定最敗壞的那類勾當——色情與毒品——被專門叫做 vice。

sex or drug crime · noun · C2

Crime that involves illegal sex or drugs.

罪惡活動(涉及色情或毒品)

Also in this word

moral failing · noun · C2

A bad quality in someone's character, or bad behaviour in general; the opposite of virtue.

惡;惡行

bad habit · noun · C2

A bad habit that you have, often said in a light or joking way.

小毛病;不良嗜好

A second word, same spelling

2

vice

n

核心畫面

Picture a heavy bench tool with two flat jaws that you screw shut to grip a piece of wood or metal tightly so it can't move while you saw or file it. This is a completely separate word from the 'moral fault' vice — it just happens to be spelled the same.

可以想成一個裝在工作檯上的重工具,有兩片平平的鉗口,轉動螺絲就把它們夾緊,牢牢咬住一塊木頭或金屬,讓它在你鋸、銼的時更多收起可以想成一個裝在工作檯上的重工具,有兩片平平的鉗口,轉動螺絲就把它們夾緊,牢牢咬住一塊木頭或金屬,讓它在你鋸、銼的時候動不了。這個字和「道德之惡」的 vice 其實是完全不同的兩個字,只是剛好拼法一樣。

From the word’s history

From Old French 'vis' (screw), from Latin 'vitis' (vine) — named for the spiral, twisting motion of the screw that closes the jaws. A different root entirely from the 'fault' vice (Latin 'vitium'); American English spells this one 'vise'.

源自古法語 vis(螺絲),再往上是拉丁語 vitis(葡萄藤),取的是螺絲那種像藤蔓一樣盤旋扭轉、把鉗口轉緊的動作。它和「惡行」的 vice(拉丁語 vitium)來自完全不同的字根;美式英語把這個工具拼成 vise。

etymonline.com/word/vice; Merriam-Webster 'vise and vice'

原始詞典資料13 筆記錄

以下是外部詞典記錄的用法,原文照列,我們還沒有寫成教學內容。上面的說明才是我們自己寫的;有些用法可能上面已經講過了。

Vicename

  • 1

    A surname.

vicenoun詞源 1/vaɪs/

  • 1

    Bad or immoral behaviour. (Especially often, a habit that harms oneself or others)

    • Pride is a vice, not a virtue.
    • Smoking was a vice Sally picked up in high school.
  • 2

    lawAny of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to weapons, prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

  • 3

    A defect in the temper or behaviour of a horse, such as to make the animal dangerous, to injure its health, or to diminish its usefulness.

    • So a horse with say, navicular disease, making him suitable only for light hacking, would probably be unsound, whereas rearing would be a vice, being a "defect in the temper... making it dangerous". A vice can however render a horse unsound - possibly a crib biter will damage its wind.

vicenoun詞源 2/vaɪs/

  • 1

    A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.

  • 2

    architectureA winding or spiral staircase.

  • 3

    obsoleteA grip or grasp.

    • Fang. If I but fiſt him once: if he come but within my Vice.

viceadj詞源 3/vaɪs/

  • 1

    in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank

    • vice president
    • vice admiral

viceprep詞源 3/vaɪs/

  • 1

    datedInstead of; in place of; versus.

    • He was gardener and out-door man, vice Upton, resigned.
    • A very small cab-boy, vice Stoopid retired, swung on behind Foker's vehicle; knock-kneed and in the tightest leather breeches.

vicenoun詞源 3/vaɪs/

  • 1

    One who acts in place of a superior.

    • c. 1850s-1870s, Edward Minister and Son, The Gazette of Fashion and Cutting-Room Companion The health of the Vice was proposed in appropriate language; in replying, Mr. Marriott thanked the company […]

這個拼法也被記錄為下列字的變化形:

資料來源:英文維基詞典 English WiktionaryCC BY-SA 4.0)。 原文照列,未經改寫。