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Vice vs Flaw - What's the difference?

vice | flaw |

In obsolete terms the difference between vice and flaw

is that vice is a grip or grasp while flaw is a thin cake, as of ice.

As nouns the difference between vice and flaw

is that vice is a bad habit while flaw is a flake, fragment, or shiver.

As verbs the difference between vice and flaw

is that vice is to hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice while flaw is to add a flaw to, to make imperfect or defective.

As an adjective vice

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

As a preposition vice

is instead of, in place of.

vice

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(en noun)
  • A bad habit.
    • Smoking is a vice , not a virtue.
  • (legal) Any of various crimes related (depending on jurisdiction) to prostitution, pornography, gambling, alcohol, or drugs.
  • 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.
  • * From the case of Scholefield v. Robb (1839).
    • Antonyms
    * (bad habit) virtue
    Derived terms
    * vice squad
    Related terms
    * vicious * vitiate

    See also

    * habit

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) ; akin to English withy.

    Alternative forms

    * vise (US)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A mechanical screw apparatus used for clamping or holding (also spelled vise).
  • A tool for drawing lead into cames, or flat grooved rods, for casements.
  • (obsolete) A grip or grasp.
  • * 1597 , , II. I. 22:
    • Fang. An I but fist him once; an a’ come but within my vice ,–

    Verb

    (vic)
  • To hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice.
  • * 1610 , , I. ii. 416:
    • Camillo. As he had seen’t, or been an instrument / To vice you to't, that you have touched his queen / Forbiddenly
  • * De Quincey
    • The coachman's hand was viced between his upper and lower thigh.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) , ablative form of vicis.

    Adjective

    vice (no comparative or superlative)
  • in place of; subordinate to; designating a person below another in rank
    • vice president
    vice admiral
    Derived terms
    * vice admiral * vice governor * vice mayor * vice president

    Preposition

    (head)
  • instead of, in place of
    • A. B. was appointed postmaster vice C. D. resigned.
    ----

    flaw

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) flawe, .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A flake, fragment, or shiver.
  • (obsolete) A thin cake, as of ice.
  • A crack or breach, a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or cohesion.
    • There is a flaw in that knife.
    That vase has a flaw .
  • * Shakespeare
    • This heart / Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws .
  • A defect, fault, or imperfection, especially one that is hidden.
  • * South
    • Has not this also its flaws and its dark side?
  • A defect or error in a contract or other document which may make the document invalid.
    • a flaw in a will, in a deed, or in a statute
    Synonyms
    * See also
    Derived terms
    * tragic flaw

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To add a flaw to, to make imperfect or defective.
  • To become imperfect or defective.

    • Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
  • * Milton
    • Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw .
  • * Tennyson
    • Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn.
  • A storm of short duration.
  • A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel.
  • * Dryden
    • And deluges of armies from the town / Came pouring in; I heard the mighty flaw .

    Anagrams

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