Vilest

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. The most detestable or disgusting attributes are viewed as extremely repugnant
2. Actions that exhibit the greatest level of immorality or contemptibility are classified as horrifying
3. Describing something that is profoundly offensive or morally reprehensible

Etymology: "Vilest" is the superlative of "vile", so its history is that of the base adjective. The sense of the word's ancestor was closer to cheapness than to repulsiveness: Latin "vīlis" meant cheap, common or of little value, and it is the root of the English word's meaning of worthlessness. Moral and physical disgust grew out of that idea of low worth, so something judged lowly in value came to be judged lowly in character. The word reached English in Middle English as "vile, vyle, vyl", borrowed from Anglo-Norman "ville" and Old French "vil, vile", which carried the Latin sense of cheapness into the language. Over time its meaning moved from low-valued goods to base or contemptible people and deeds, and eventually to the strongly repugnant sense that "vilest" now expresses at its most extreme.

Synonyms: most despicable, most vile, most contemptible, most loathsome, most abhorrent

Antonyms: best, noblest, most virtuous, most admirable, most pleasant