Heinous is spelled with two syllables, pronounced /ˈheɪnəs/. The initial sound is an aspirated h, followed by a long a sound, represented by the ae digraph. The next syllable is pronounced with a weak stress on the short i vowel sound, followed by a voiced n, and a final syllable pronounced with a weak stress on the short u sound and an unvoiced s. Heinous means extremely wicked or abominable, and is often used to describe a particularly odious or terrible act.
"Heinous" is an adjective that describes an action, behavior, or person that is utterly wicked, abhorrent, or reprehensible in nature. It refers to acts that are shockingly evil, cruel, or atrocious, often causing great suffering, harm, or distress to others. This term is used to convey an intense sense of moral outrage and contempt towards an individual or their actions.
The word "heinous" implies a level of immorality that goes beyond merely bad or wrong, suggesting a deliberate intention to commit acts of extreme depravity. It is commonly associated with serious crimes, such as murder, rape, genocide, terrorism, or other acts of extreme violence that elicit strong moral condemnation.
The usage of "heinous" often highlights the extent of the harm caused, the lack of empathy or remorse, and the intentional nature of the act. It evokes feelings of indignation, disgust, and shock, as it describes actions that violate fundamental principles of humanity, decency, and empathy. The word can also be applied to describe attitudes, ideologies, or institutions that promote or perpetrate such acts.
Overall, "heinous" is a powerful term that encapsulates the magnitude of evil and wrongful behaviors, and it is employed to emphasize the severity and moral repugnance of certain actions or individuals.
Wicked in a high degree; hateful; atrocious.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "heinous" originated from the Old French word "haineus" or "hainous", which means "hateful" or "odious". It ultimately comes from the Latin word "hinonus", which has a similar meaning. The Latin word "hinonus" is derived from the Latin word "odio", meaning "hatred". Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved to become "heinous" in English, but its meaning has remained consistent.