The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Atrocity \A*troc"i*ty\, n.; pl. Atrocities. [F. atrocit['e], L. atrocitas, fr. atrox, atrocis, cruel.] 1. Enormous wickedness; extreme heinousness or cruelty. [1913 Webster] 2. An atrocious or extremely cruel deed. [1913 Webster] The atrocities which attend a victory. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]