Egregious
/ɪˈɡriː.dʒəs/noun
Remarkably bad or offensive; shocking.
Did you know?In ancient Rome, the term 'egregious' referred to those who stood out for their exceptional qualities, often with a negative connotation in later usage, linking excellence to moral decay.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
egregius
“Distinguished, excellent, but later turned to signify bad behavior.”
Middle English
Middle English
egregious
“Adopted from Latin, initially retained the positive sense of 'noteworthy'.”
16th Century
English
egregious
“Began to shift towards a negative connotation, implying something remarkably bad.”
Modern English
English
egregious
“Now primarily used to describe something shockingly bad or offensive.”
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