Vice the Fault and Vice-President Are Different Words
A vice is an immoral habit. The vice in vice-president means in place of.
A vice is an immoral or wicked habit; a vice is also a gripping tool, spelled *vise* in America. The *vice-* in *vice-president* is a third and separate word: Latin *vice* means in place of, so a vice-president acts in place of the president. It has nothing to do with wickedness. The fault is Latin *vitium*, a defect, which gives *vitiate*, to spoil. The tool is Latin *vitis*, a vine, from the spiral of its screw thread.
- An immoral habit. *A minor vice.*
- A gripping tool. *A bench vice.*
- In place of. *Vice-president.*
- Vice versa. *Vice versa.*
- Latin — *vitium*, a defect. *The fault.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | vice | A vice. |
| Plural | vices | Vices. |
| American | vise | A vise. |
| Prefix | vice- | Vice-chair. |
| Latin | vitium | A defect. |
- Smoking was his only vice.Fault.
- Clamp it in the vice.Tool.
- The vice-chair spoke.Office.
The three vices
- Vice the fault — Latin *vitium*, a defect
- Vice the tool — Latin *vitis*, a vine, from the screw's spiral
- Vice- the prefix — Latin *vice*, in place of
- Vice versa — the position being reversed
- None of the three is related to the others
The fault is Latin *vitium*. The tool is Latin *vitis*, a vine. The prefix is Latin *vice*, in place of.
Does vice-president mean anything about vice?
No. That vice is Latin for in place of, so a vice-president acts in the president's stead.
Why is a gripping tool called a vice?
From Latin vitis, a vine, because of the spiral of its screw thread.