Flagrance

/ˈfleɪɡrəns/ noun

Definition

The quality of being flagrant; the state of being obviously bad, shocking, or morally wrong in a way that cannot be ignored.

Etymology

From Old French 'flagrance,' derived from Latin 'flagrare' (to blaze or burn), originally meaning literally 'burning' or 'flaming.' The meaning evolved to describe behavior that 'burns' or stands out obviously as wrong.

Kelly Says

The Latin root 'flagrare' (to burn) is the same root that gives us 'flagrant,' and the connection is beautiful—when something burns brightly, everyone can see it, just like when someone commits an obvious crime!

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