enormity
Definitions
Extreme wickedness; a monstrous or atrocious act
穷凶极恶；暴行，滔天大罪
(disputed) The great size, scale, or seriousness of something
（有争议）巨大；严重程度，规模之大
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedex- (out of) + norm (the square) + -ity (state of) = 'the state of being outside the bounds.' Unlike enormous, which kept only 'huge,' enormity held on to the moral branch: something so far outside the bounds of decency that it is monstrous.
Root norm still carries 24 more wordsWhy It Means This
Traditionally enormity means a great evil — an atrocity, a monstrous crime (the enormity of the genocide). Because it sounds like enormous, many writers now use it for 'great size or seriousness' (the enormity of the challenge). Dictionaries increasingly accept this second sense, but careful and formal writers still keep enormity for moral horror and use enormousness or magnitude for mere size.
Usage Guide
The enormity dispute — Two senses are in play and they can confuse readers:
- Moral sense (traditional, always safe): enormity = monstrous wickedness. The court heard the full enormity of his crimes.
- Size sense (common but disputed): enormity = great scale/seriousness. They underestimated the enormity of the task.
In formal or careful writing, reserve enormity for evil and use magnitude / enormousness / immensity for sheer size, to avoid the unintended suggestion that the 'task' is wicked. In neutral journalism the size sense is now widely accepted.
Example Sentences
- 1.
Years later, the nation was still grappling with the enormity of the atrocity.
- 2.
Only gradually did she grasp the enormity of what he had done.
- 3.
Standing at the base, they felt the sheer enormity of the mountain.