enormity

The story

1. Latin · derived fromēnormitās“irregularity; enormity”
2. Old French · derived froménormité“enormity”
3. Middle English · inherited fromēnorme“monstrous or unnatural act; enormity”
4. English todayenormity

From Late Middle English ēnorme (“monstrous or unnatural act; enormity”), from Old French énormité (“enormity”), from Latin ēnormitās (“irregularity; enormity”), from ēnōrmis (“irregular, unusual; enormous, immense”) + -itās (suffix forming nouns indicating states of being). Ēnōrmis is derived from e- (a variant of ex- (prefix meaning ‘out; away’) + nōrma (“norm, standard”) + -is (Latin suffix forming adjectives from nouns).

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. Deviation from moral normality; extreme wickedness, nefariousness, or cruelty.
• from 15th c. A breach of law or morality; a transgression, an act of evil or wickedness.
• from 18th c. Great size; enormousness, hugeness, immenseness.