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Webster 1913 Edition

Egregious

E-gre′gious

(?; 277)
,
Adj.
[L.
egregius
; lit., separated or chosen from the herd, i. e., distinguished, excellent;
e
out +
grex
,
gregis
, herd. See
Gregarious
.]
Surpassing; extraordinary; distinguished (in a bad sense); – formerly used with words importing a good quality, but now joined with words having a bad sense;
as, an
egregious
rascal; an
egregious
ass; an
egregious
mistake.
The
egregious
impudence of this fellow.
Bp. Hall.
His [Wyclif’s]
egregious
labors are not to be neglected.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Egregious

EGRE'GIOUS

,
Adj.
[L. egregius, supposed to be from e or ex grege, from or out of or beyond the herd, select, choice.]
1.
Eminent; remarkable; extraordinary; distinguished; as egregious exploits; an egregious prince. But in this sense it is seldom applied to persons.
2.
In a bad sense, great; extraordinary; remarkable; enormous; as an egregious mistake; egregious contempt. In this sense it is often applied to persons; as an egregious rascal; an egregious murderer.

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