1. (n.) A defect; a fault; an error; a blemish; an imperfection; as, the vices of a political constitution; the vices of a horse.

2. (n.) A moral fault or failing; especially, immoral conduct or habit, as in the indulgence of degrading appetites; customary deviation in a single respect, or in general, from a right standard, implying a defect of natural character, or the result of training and habits; a harmful custom; immorality; depravity; wickedness; as, a life of vice; the vice of intemperance.

3. (n.) The buffoon of the old English moralities, or moral dramas, having the name sometimes of one vice, sometimes of another, or of Vice itself; -- called also Iniquity.

4. (n.) A kind of instrument for holding work, as in filing. Same as Vise.

5. (n.) A tool for drawing lead into cams, or flat grooved rods, for casements.

6. (n.) A gripe or grasp.

7. (v. t.) To hold or squeeze with a vice, or as if with a vice.

8. (prep.) In the place of; in the stead; as, A. B. was appointed postmaster vice C. D. resigned.

9. (prep.) Denoting one who in certain cases may assume the office or duties of a superior; designating an officer or an office that is second in rank or authority; as, vice president; vice agent; vice consul, etc.

advocate alter ego alternate amicus curiae as proxy for as representing attorney backup backup man bad habit badness besetting sin blemish champion corruption crime criminal tendency criminality criminosis debasement debauchery decay defect deficiency degeneracy degradation depravity deputy discourtesy disorder disorderliness disorderly conduct disruption disruptiveness dummy evil evil courses evildoing executive officer exponent failing failure fault feloniousness figurehead flaw foible for frailty frowned-upon behavior hooliganism horseplay ill immorality imperfection impropriety in behalf of in lieu of in place of in preference to indecency infirmity iniquity lawbreaking licentiousness lieutenant locum locum tenens malfeasance malpractice malversation misbehavior misconduct misdemeanor misdoing misfeasance misprision misprision of treason moral flaw naughtiness nonsanctioned behavior on behalf of paranymph perversion pinch hitter pleader positive misprision procurator profligacy proxy replacing representative rot roughhouse rowdiness rowdyism ruffianism second in command secondary shortcoming sin sinfulness squalor stand-in substitute surrogate thou scarlet sin transgression unchastity understudy utility man vandalism venality venial sin vicar vicar general vicegerent viciousness villainy weak point weak side weakness wickedness wrong wrong conduct wrongdoing