Of persons: Of a low, base, or despicable character; morally depraved or degraded; capable of the basest conduct.

Of a person (also occasionally of an animal): not noble in disposition; ignoble, base. Also in early use: †considered unworthy of honour or…

Of a person, etc.: morally bad, wicked; vile. Cf. naughty, adj. 2a. Obsolete.

Of disposition: Mean-spirited, base. Obsolete.

= vile, adj., in various senses. Of persons.

= scald, adj.1

Of the nature of, or like a broker; pettifogging, huckstering.

Base-dealing; ‘peddling,’ contemptible.

Wanting in spirit or courage; timid, cowardly. Formerly also: †morally inferior, low-minded (obsolete).

figurative. ‘Scurvy’, mean, paltry, contemptible. (Cf. scabbed, adj. 2.) ⁋scald miserable: a burlesque designation apparently first used in 1742 in…

Of or belonging to a low moral nature or condition.