vicious vs viscous circle vs cycle :

vicious or viscous circle or cycle

The term “vicious circle” was invented by logicians to describe a form of fallacious circular argument in which each term of the argument draws on the other: “Democracy is the best form of government because democratic elections produce the best governments.” The phrase has been extended in popular usage to all kinds of self-exacerbating processes such as this: poor people often find themselves borrowing money to pay off their debts, but in the process create even more onerous debts which in their turn will need to be financed by further borrowing. Sensing vaguely that such destructive spirals are not closed loops, people have transmuted “vicious circle” into “vicious cycle.” The problem with this perfectly logical change is that a lot of people know what the original “correct” phrase was and are likely to scorn users of the new one. They go beyond scorn to contempt however toward those poor souls who render the phrase as “viscous cycle.” Don’t use this expression unless you are discussing a Harley-Davidson i

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Definitions
  vicious
  • s  (of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
    vicious kicks
  • s  having the nature of vice
  • s  bringing or deserving severe rebuke or censure
  • s  marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful
    vicious gossip
  cycle
  • n  an interval during which a recurring sequence of events occurs
    the never-ending cycle of the seasons
  • n  a series of poems or songs on the same theme
    Schubert's song cycles
  • n  a periodically repeated sequence of events
    a cycle of reprisal and retaliation
  • n  the unit of frequency; one hertz has a periodic interval of one second
  • n  a single complete execution of a periodically repeated phenomenon
    a year constitutes a cycle of the seasons
  • n  a wheeled vehicle that has two wheels and is moved by foot pedals
  • v  cause to go through a recurring sequence
    cycle the laundry in this washing program
  • v  pass through a cycle
    This machine automatically cycles
  • v  ride a motorcycle
  • v  ride a bicycle
  • v  recur in repeating sequences
News & Articles
  vicious
  • Rugby Union: Vicious Rugby Hit Sees Tongan Suspended
    Tonga's David Halaifonua has been suspended by the International Rugby Board (IRB), via IRB.com , for six weeks due to a vicious, illegal hit on Canada winger Matt Evans. Bleacher Report covered the initial aftermath of the match, in which Tonga head coach Mana Otai claimed that his players were being targeted by officials and that he could see no reason for any punishment. On June 12, the IRB's ...
    June 12, 2013 - Bleacher Report
  • Professor killed by woman with stiletto heel, police say
    It may have been a vicious murder or the unintentional result of a lover's quarrel. Either way, the death of a Texas college professor stands out for the weapon the killer allegedly used: one of her own stilettos.
    June 12, 2013 - CNN
  • Few Storms
    FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) - A vicious dog attack has injured half the horses at a Fond du Lac therapy program. Molly is lucky to be alive. "The vet needed to double each stitch so there were 27 stitches that became 54," said Mary Narges, Executive Director of Free SPIRIT Riders.
    June 12, 2013 - WFRV 5 Green Bay
  cycle