4 responses so far ↓

• 1 David // Feb 7, 2005 at 1:57 pm

  Thanks for sharing, since I never really knew the definition of enormity. I always used it for “large size”; all that time, and according to Merriam-Webster, I was being subtle. Who knew.

• 2 Glen Whitman // Feb 7, 2005 at 4:28 pm

  I don’t have a copy of the OED, but I think I heard that the “enormity = moral badness” story had been debunked. As I recall, it turned out the use of enormity to mean largeness has been around since very early in the word’s history — maybe even before the moral badness sense.

• 3 Julian Sanchez // Feb 7, 2005 at 5:26 pm

  Well, most of the online dictionaries I’ve used give the “moral wickedness” definition first, then mention the “bigness” definition with a note usage panels are split on whether that one’s admissible. Either way, the ambiguity yields a fair amount of humor potential (which is one reason I’m inclined to go with the usage panel on this one).

• 4 PJ Doland // Feb 8, 2005 at 10:51 am

  Here’s what the OED says (without usage examples):

  1. Divergence from a normal standard or type; abnormality, irregularity. Obs. or arch.

  2. Deviation from moral or legal rectitude. In later use influenced by ENORMOUS 3: Extreme or monstrous wickedness.

  3. Excess in magnitude; hugeness, vastness. Obs.; recent examples might perh. be found, but the use is now regarded as incorrect.

  The etymology entry shows:

  [ad. Fr. �©normit�©, ad. L. enormitatem, f. {enormis (see ENORM).]

  Enorm indicates:

  e = out + norma = mason’s square, pattern.