имя существительное 1) гнусность, чудовищность Например: the sheer enormity of the crime — невероятная чудовищность преступления Синоним(ы): monstrousness, heinousness 2) чудовищное преступление Например: the enormities of state power — чудовищные преступления государственных властей 3) громадность, широта Например: The enormity of such an act of generosity is staggering. — Широта такого акта великодушия ошеломляет. Синоним(ы): hugeness, vastness
noun (plural -ties) 1. an outrageous, improper, vicious, or immoral act Example: the enormities of state power — Susan Sontag Example: other enormities too juvenile to mention — Richard Freedman 2. the quality or state of being immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous; especially great wickedness Example: the enormity of the crimes committed during the Third Reich — G. A. Craig 3. the quality or state of being huge; immensity Example: the inconceivable enormity of the universe 4. a quality of momentous importance or impact Example: the enormity of the decision Usage: Enormity, some people insist, is improperly used to denote large size. They insist on enormousness for this meaning, and would limit enormity to the meaning “great wickedness.” Those who urge such a limitation may not recognize the subtlety with which enormity is actually used. It regularly denotes a considerable departure from the expected or normal Example: they awakened; they sat up; and then the enormity of their situation burst upon them. “How did the fire start?” — John Steinbeck. When used to denote large size, either literal or figurative, it usually suggests something so large as to seem overwhelming Example: no intermediate zone of study. Either the enormity of the desert or the sight of a tiny flower — Paul Theroux Example: the enormity of the task of teachers in slum schools — J. B. Conant and may even be used to suggest both great size and deviation from morality Example: the enormity of existing stockpiles of atomic weapons — New Republic. It can also emphasize the momentousness of what has happened Example: the sombre enormity of the Russian Revolution — George Steiner or of its consequences Example: perceived as no one in the family could the enormity of the misfortune — E. L. Doctorow.