View source for Vicious - viscous

Don't confuse these two [[adjective]]s - nor allow your spellchecker to let you use the wrong one.

*'''Vicious''' (pronounced 'VISH-es', {{IPA|ˈvɪʃ əs)}} is derived from the [[noun]] '''vice''' (the opposite of 'virtue'), which may help you remember that the central [[consonant]] is a simple '-c-'. Although originally in English 'a vice' could be any of the [[sin]]s held to be deadly by the Christian churches, it is becoming more limited to bitter, malevolent and hurtful behaviour, such as cruelty and rage. (The 'Vice  Squad' as a department of a British police force, however,  concentrates on sexual offences.)

::The noun '''viciousness''' is a noun labelling a tendency of character rather than 

*'''Viscous''' is pronounced with a 'hard -c-' - the sound of '-k-': 'VISK-es, {{IPA|ˈvɪs kəs}}. The [[abstract noun]] '''viscosity''' (pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, 'vis-COSS-it-i', {{IPA|vɪs ˈkɒs ɪt ɪ}}) means 'the quality [''or'' state]] of being viscous'. It basically means 'gluey' or 'sticky'. In Physics and similar sciences, viscosity is the quality in fluids of being 'thicker' or 'thinner', as honey is more '''viscous''' than water: it may be thought of as a kind of internal friction, or resistance to free-flowing movement. The related [[adjective]] '''viscid''' ('sticky', 'glutinous') is pronounced with a [[soft c]]: 'VISS-id', {{IPA|ˈvɪs ɪd}}.

::'Viscous' is derived from the [[Latin]] ''viscus'', 'mistletoe', a plant from which a sticky material (viscin) was obtained which was used, as birdlime, on twigs, to trap birds.

There is also a [[noun]] '''viscose''', also with a 'hard -c-', which can be used [[adjective|adjectivally]]. It is a chemical derived from cellulose, with a sticky characteristic. It is used as the basis for various other substances. These include the synthetic fibre rayon, which was originally called 'artificial silk' (abbreviated in the 1920s to 'Artsilk': the term 'art silk' is sometimes used in sales talk), and for the transparent film cellophane (a trademark name in the UK and other countries). The word '''viscose''' is increasingly being used to mean material made of rayon.

::You may also like to see AWE's article on [[Viscera (pronunciation)|viscera]].

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