Adjacent Words

Rancor definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RAN'COR, n. [L. from ranceo, to be rank.]
1. The deepest malignity or spite; deep seated and implacable malice; inveterate enmity. [This is the strongest term for enmity which the English language supplies.]
It issues from the rancor of a villain.
2. Virulence; corruption.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will [syn: resentment, bitterness, gall, rancor, rancour]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English rancour, from Anglo-French rancur, from Late Latin rancor rancidity, rancor, from Latin ranc?re Date: 14th century bitter deep-seated ill will Synonyms: see enmity

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Rancor Ran"cor, n. [Written also rancour.] [OE. rancour, OF. rancor, rancur, F. rancune, fr. L. rancor rancidity, rankness; tropically, an old grudge, rancor, fr. rancere to be rank or rancid.] The deepest malignity or spite; deep-seated enmity or malice; inveterate hatred. ``To stint rancour and dissencioun.'' --Chaucer. It would not be easy to conceive the passion, rancor, and malice of their tongues and hearts. --Burke. Syn: Enmity; hatred; ill will; malice; spite; grudge; animosity; malignity. Usage: Rancor, Enmity. Enmity and rancor both describe hostile feelings; but enmity may be generous and open, while rancor implies personal malice of the worst and most enduring nature, and is the strongest word in our language to express hostile feelings. Rancor will out; proud prelate, in thy face I see thy fury. --Shak. Rancor is that degree of malice which preys upon the possessor. --Cogan.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

see rancour

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Malignity, malice, malevolence, spite, venom, gall, grudge, ill-will, hate, hatred, enmity, animosity, vindictiveness, bitterness.

Moby Thesaurus

acerbity, acid, acidity, acidulousness, acrimony, animosity, animus, antagonism, antipathy, asperity, bad blood, bad feeling, bile, bitter feeling, bitter resentment, bitterness, bitterness of spirit, causticity, choler, enmity, feud, gall, gnashing of teeth, grudgefulness, hard feelings, hate, hatred, heartburning, hostility, ill blood, ill feeling, ill will, implacability, implacableness, irreconcilableness, malevolence, malice, malignity, rankling, resentfulness, resentment, revengefulness, slow burn, soreness, sourness, spite, spleen, unappeasableness, vendetta, vengefulness, venom, venomousness, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol