Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - vice

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin vitium fault, ~  Date: 14th century  1.  a. moral depravity or corruption ; wickedness  b. a moral fault or failing  c. a habitual and usually trivial defect or shortcoming ; foible suffered from the ~ of curiosity  2. blemish, defect  3. a physical imperfection, deformity, or taint  4.  a. often capitalized a character representing one of the ~s in an English morality play  b. buffoon, jester  5. an abnormal behavior pattern in a domestic animal detrimental to its health or usefulness  6. sexual immorality; especially prostitution  Synonyms: see fault, offense  II. chiefly British variant of vise  III. preposition  Etymology: Latin, ablative of vicis change, alternation, stead — more at week  Date: 1770 in the place of I will preside, ~ the absent chairman; also rather than