πονηρία

A. bad state or condition, ὀφθαλμῶν Pl. Hp.Mi. 374d; ἡ τοῦ σώματος π. Id. R. 609c; π. ψυχῆς ibid.

II. in moral sense, wickedness, vice, knavery, ἡ μωρία . . ἀδελφὴ τῆς π. ἔφυ S. Fr. 925, cf. Ar. Th. 868, Lys. 22.16; εἰς τὴν π. πάλιν τρέπεται turns again to vice, X. Cyr. 7.5.75: in pl., knavish tricks, rogueries, D. 21.19, Arist. Rh. 1389a18.

2. baseness, cowardice, E. Cyc. 645, Lys. 14.9.

3. with a political connotation, mob-rule, Th. 8.47.