Enormity



GRE Barron

解释

GRE 红宝书

• n.极恶; 暴行; 巨大
• ［英］ n.极恶 ( great wickedness) ; 巨大 ( being huge; immensity)
• ［记］ e ( 出) +norm ( 正常) +ity -> 出了正常状态 -> 暴行, 巨大
• ［例］ the enormity of his behavior in murduring his wife

Webster Collegiate

noun (plural -ties)

• Date: 15th century
• 1. an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act <the enormities of state power — Susan Sontag><other enormities too juvenile to mention — Richard Freedman>
• 2. the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous; especially great wickedness <the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich — G. A. Craig>
• 3. the quality or state of being huge ; immensity <the inconceivable enormity of the universe>
• 4. a quality of momentous importance or impact <the enormity of the decision>
• Usage:
  • Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit enormity to the meaning “great wickedness.” Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the expected or normal <they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity of their situation burst upon them. “How did the fire start?” — John Steinbeck>. When used to denote large size, either literal or figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming<no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of the desert or the sight of a tiny flower — Paul Theroux><the enormity of the task of teachers in slum schools — J. B. Conant> and may even be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality<the enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons — New Republic>. It can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened<the sombre enormity of the Russian Revolution — George Steiner> or of its consequences<perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune — E. L. Doctorow>.

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