Question

what is the meaning of the word nefarious as used in the passage? grimms fairy tales, first published in the early nineteenth century, contained more than two hundred folktales, some of which, such as \snow white\ and \cinderella,\ are still well known today. the original tales are often marked by violence and filled with nefarious characters; the characters in the family - friendly versions we know today are often quite unlike those evil figures. unfamiliar or peculiar various or diverse vile or wicked

Explanation:

The context mentions original tales have evil figures and "nefarious characters" is used in relation to these evil - like characters. "Vile or wicked" best matches the meaning in this context.

Answer:

vile or wicked