Iniquities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Actions or practices that are morally wrong or unjust; instances of wickedness or immorality; harmful behaviors that violate ethical or social standards
2. Unlawful or sinful acts that bring harm or injustice; occurrences of moral corruption or vice; transgressions that undermine fairness and virtue
3. Behaviors characterized by moral depravity or injustice; examples of wrongdoing that betray ethical principles; violations of justice or righteousness in society

Etymology: The most striking thing about "iniquities" is how close it sits to its opposite. Its Latin ancestor, "inīquus," was built from "in-," meaning "not," and "aequus," meaning "equal" or "fair." So at root, an iniquity is something unequal, unjust, or unbalanced, and the moral sense of wickedness grew out of that basic idea of fairness being violated. The Latin noun "inīquitās" carried both senses from the start, covering unfairness and inequality as well as injustice. It passed into Old French as "iniquité," and Middle English borrowed it in the form "iniquite," which could mean evil, wickedness, hostility, or even a misfortune or calamity. The broader sense of misfortune has since faded, leaving the moral sense of wrongdoing. "Iniquities" is simply the plural of "iniquity," used when several wrongs or instances of injustice are meant at once. English also has a close relative, "inequity," which is a doublet of the same Latin source, so the two words entered English by slightly different routes and remain close in meaning.

Synonyms: wickedness, immorality, wrongdoing

Antonyms: virtue, goodness