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Illicit vs Iniquity - What's the difference?

illicit | iniquity |

As an adjective illicit

is (legal) not approved by law, but not invalid.

As a noun iniquity is

deviation from what is right; wickedness, gross injustice.

illicit

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (legal) Not approved by law, but not invalid.
    • The bigamous marriage, while illicit, was not invalid.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , date = 2008-01-08 , title = Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership , first = Madeleine , last = Albright , authorlink = Madeleine Albright , location = New York , publisher = HarperCollins , isbn = 9780061351808 , ol = 9952500M , page = 225 , passage = Such migrants may violate our laws against illicit entry, but if that's all they do then they are trespassers, not criminals. }}
  • Breaking social norms.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year = 1993 , title = Diaries: In Power 1983-1992 , first = Alan , last = Clark , authorlink = Alan Clark , location = London , publisher = Weidenfeld and Nicholson , isbn = 0297813528 , ol = 1046930M , passage = I only can properly enjoy carol services if I am having an illicit affair with someone in the congregation. }}
  • Unlawful.
  • * {{quote-book
    • , date = 2010-07-29 , title = (The Dervish House) , first = Ian , last = McDonald , authorlink = Ian McDonald (British author) , isbn = 9780575089044 , ol = 25418126M , url = http://books.google.com/books?id=-rgZys-M4q4C&pg=PT328&dq=illicit , passage = Ay?e Erkoç learned long ago that the secret of doing anything illicit in Istanbul is to do it in full public gaze in the clear light of day. No one ever questions the legitimacy of the blatant. }}

    Usage notes

    Licit and valid are legal terms to be compared, especially in terms of canon law. With bigamy, if there is an innocent party, the innocent party is validly married; the problem is with the guilty party, who has entered into an illegal second marriage without first divorcing the earlier spouse. The marriage is valid in canon law (and often, civil law), but the guilty party goes to jail nonetheless, in that the marriage is illicit (and illegal), and the innocent party routinely receives a fast annulment and the full sympathy of the court. A corollary is that the children born of such unions are inherently legitimate.

    Synonyms

    * criminal * illegal * illegitimate * prohibited * unlawful

    iniquity

    English

    Noun

    (iniquities)
  • Deviation from what is right; wickedness, gross injustice.
  • * 1994 , ,
    • The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.
  • * '>citation
  • A wrongful act.
  • Absence of moral or spiritual values, lawlessness.
  • Denial of the sovereignty of God.