iniquity

plural iniquities · alternative iniquitie

1. uncountableDeviation from what is right; gross injustice, sin, wickedness.

   If you be ſo fond ouer her iniquity, giue her patent to offend, for if it touches not you, it comes neere no body.

   c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragœdy of Othello, the Moore of Venice. […] (First Quarto), London: […] N[icholas] O[kes] for Thomas Walkley, […], published 1622, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i], page 66

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   And bycauſe our auncient enemye the Deuyl, who is the well and, ſpryng of iniquitie, and is not onely hymſelfe an homycide, a lyer, and and^([sic]) hater of the truth frõ the beginnyng: [...] Therefore like as we deſyre here to be delyuered from ſynne, ſo also we deſyre, that our heauenly father will ſaue vs, and defende vs from this euil the cauſer of ſynne, that is to ſaye, the Deuyll: [...]

   1555 September 24, Edmonde Byshop of London [i.e., Edmund Bonner], “Thexposition or Declaration of the vii. and Last Peticion of the Pater Noster, which is: But Delyuer Vs from Euill. Amen.”, in A Profitable and Necessarye Doctryne, with Certayne Homelies Adioyned thervnto […], London: In ædibvs Iohannis Cawodi, […], →OCLC

   Beholde, he putteth no truſt in his Saints, yea, the heauens are not cleane in his ſight. How much more abominable and filthie is man, which drinketh iniquitie like water?

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 15:15–16

   It will be found, when the Myſterie of iniquitie ſhall be unriddled, that, as they were their ſpawn the Anabaptiſts, the obſtructers of our Doctrinal Reformation, ſo, they are by their Miſſionaries ſent unto Corners and Hillie Countreys the obſtructers of our practical.

   1702, [John Wilson], An Essay wherein National Love and Unity is Recommended, Its Opposits Exposed, Arguments for It Propounded, and Its Standard Expounded, and All Contenders Blamed. […], Edinburgh: Printed by the heirs and successors of Andrew Anderson, […], →OCLC, page 22

   In the scanty number of reclaimed convicts, the noted George Barrington holds a conspicuous place. [...] His death took place nearly seven years ago: but for a considerable time previously he was in a state of insanity, produced, it is believed, by serious and sorrowful reflections on his early career of iniquity. [...] [H]is death was that of a sincere Christian.

   1812 May, “Art. I. The Present Picture of New South Wales; […] By D. D. Mann, […] Booth. 1811. [book review]”, in The Monthly Review; or, Literary Journal, Enlarged, volume LXVIII, London: Sold by Becket and Porter, […], →OCLC, pages 3–4

   It is one of the most surprising things that I have ever observed, That sanctity should be ashamed to look out, but iniquity show itself at noon. [...] Hence the company of rakes over their bottle, are not shy to open to another the mystery of iniquity in their most abandoned actions, and to glory in their shame.

   1811, James Meikle, “Meditation XXXII. Grace in the Blush, Sin not Ashamed.”, in Solitude Sweetened; or, Miscellaneous Meditations, on Various Religious Subjects, Written in Distant Parts of the World, 3rd American edition, New York, N.Y.: Printed for S[tephen] Dodge, by Geo[rge] Forman, →OCLC, page 90

   Synonyms: baseness, depravity, perversion

2. countableAn act of great injustice or unfairness; a sinful or wicked act; an unconscionable deed.

   For this is an heinous crime, yea, it is an iniquitie to bee puniſhed by the Judges.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 31:11, column 2

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   [A]s for the other [goat], which was the Scape Goat, he [Aaron] was to lay his hands on the head thereof, and by a confeſſion of the iniquities of the people, to lay them all on that head, and then by ſome opportune man, to cauſe the Goat to be led into the wilderneſſe, and there to eſcape, and carry away with him the iniquities of the people.

   1651, Thomas Hobbes, “Of the Office of Our Blessed Saviour”, in Leviathan, or The Matter, Forme, & Power of a Common-wealth Ecclesiasticall and Civill, London: […] [William Wilson] for Andrew Crooke, […], →OCLC, 3rd part (Of a Christian Common-wealth), page 261

   O regard not this, 'tis an iniquity to be taken heed of, in a dark day, in a day of trouble, ſuch as was upon Job; as black a day was upon him, as ever upon any in the world, as to his perſonal condition.

   1664, Joseph Caryl, “Job, Chap. 36, Vers. 21”, in An Exposition with Practical Observations Continued upon the Thirty-fifth, Thirty-sixth, and Thirty-seventh Chapters of the Book of Job: Being the Substance of Thirty-five Lectures, London: Printed by M[ary] Simmons, […], →OCLC, page 320

   As for moral Actions, a good Beginning is a great Sign of a good End; but it cannot juſtify a bad one, upon any Attempt: For there's many a holy Cheat in the World; and many an Iniquity, countenanc'd with Religion and Self-Preſervation, which is carry'd on under that Mask, to Rebellion and Murder.

   1713, Oswald Dykes, “Prov[erb] I. Well Begun, is Half Done.”, in English Proverbs, with Moral Reflexions; [in Imitation of Sir Roger L’Estrange’s Æsop.]: Familiarly Accommodated to the Humour and Manners of the Present Age. […], 3rd edition, London: Printed for G[eorge] Sawbridge, and sold by Jonas Browne […], →OCLC, page 2

   I would say that Slavery was an iniquity, and ought to be abolished. I would say there was no reason nor justice in the law, or the constitution that allows one man to hold another man in bondage.

   1853, Solomon Northup, chapter XIX, in [David Wilson], editor, Twelve Years a Slave. […], London: Sampson Low, Son & Co.; Auburn, N.Y.: Derby and Miller, →OCLC, page 268

   The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.

   1994 May 21, Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction, spoken by Jules Winnfield (Samuel L[eroy] Jackson)

   Synonyms: depravity, outrage, atrocity, depravity, infamy, outrage, turpitude, wickedness