corruptionn.
/kəˈrʌpʃən/ The action of corrupting; the fact of being corrupted; the condition of being corrupt; corrupt matter; a corrupt example or form; corrupting agency: in the various physical, moral, and transferred applications of corrupt adj.
I. Physical.† 1. figurative.1623 W. Shakespeare & J. Fletcher Henry VIII iv. ii. 71 After my death, I wish no other Herald..To keepe mine Honor, from Corruption, But such an honest Chronicler as Griffith. View more context for this quotation† c. Applied to inorganic matter: The breaking up or decomposition of a body, the oxidation or corrosion of metals, etc. Obsolete.† d. In a more general sense: Destruction, dissolution of the constitution which makes a thing what it is. Obsolete.† 2. figurative.1600 W. Shakespeare Henry IV, Pt. 2 (2nd issue) iii. i. 72 That foule sin gathering head, Shall breake into corruption . View more context for this quotationa1616 W. Shakespeare King John (1623) iv. ii. 81 When it breakes, I feare will issue thence The foule corruption of a sweet childes death. View more context for this quotation1642 D. Rogers Naaman 263 True humblenesse..lyes open brested to receive every point of Gods weapon, to let out her corruption.
a. The destruction or spoiling of anything, esp. by disintegration or by decomposition with its attendant unwholesomeness; and loathsomeness; putrefaction. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > corruption or putridness > [noun]
rottennessc1350
corruption1377
rottednessa1398
rottingnessa1398
putredea1400
rotnessa1400
rotshipa1400
rottenhead?c1400
putridness?a1425
ranknessc1450
corruptness1561
putriture1569
putritude1617
putridity1628
putidness1648
putrescency1752
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > corruption or putridness > [noun] > process of
rottingOE
corruption1377
rotc1384
putrefactiona1400
putrification1548
putriture1569
tainting1593
decay1594
putrescence1646
decomposition1777
sepsis1813
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > rotten or putrefying condition > rotting or putrefying
rottingOE
corruption1377
putrefactiona1400
putrification1548
putriture1569
tainting1593
putrescence1646
putredo1680
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. xx. 98 Kynde come after with many kene sores, As pokkes and pestilences and moche poeple shente; So kynde þorw corupciouns kulled ful manye.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Dan. iii. 92 Loo! I see foure men..walkynge in mydil of the fyre, and no thing of corrupcioun is in hem.
c1400 Mandeville's Trav. (Roxb.) viii. 31 In þat abbay commes neuer fleess, ne flyes, ne nan oþer swilk vermyn of corrupcioun.
1546 T. Phaer Bk. Children (1553) R ij b The hole body falleth in distemper..it procedeth commonly by corrupcion of the milke.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §771 If you provide against the causes of Putrefaction, matter maketh not that haste to corruption, that is conceived.
1718 J. Chamberlayne tr. B. Nieuwentyt Relig. Philosopher I. iii. ii. 27 The naked Bone can rarely endure the Air without Corruption.
b. spec. Decomposition as a consequence of death; dissolution.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > death > [noun] > state or condition of
deathOE
homeOE
restOE
sleepOE
powderc1300
corruptiona1340
gravec1380
darkness1535
silence1535
tomb1559
iron sleep1573
another country1597
iron slumber1604
deadness1607
deadlihead1612
deadlihood1659
nothingness1813
unlivingness1914
post-mortemity1922
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > decomposition, melting, or crumbling away > as a consequence of death
corruptiona1340
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter xv. 10 Ne þou sall gif þi haligh to see corupcioun.
c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) 1 Cor. xv. 42 The aȝen rysinge of deed men. It is sowun in corupcioun.
1533 J. Gau tr. C. Pedersen Richt Vay sig. Eiiv Yair sal be na generacione na corrupcione efter dwmis day.
c1540 (?a1400) Destr. Troy 10787 His corse..come to corupcioun, as his kynd asked.
1615 H. Crooke Μικροκοσμογραϕια 19 If we would keepe a body long, the dissection must be begun at those parts which are most subiect to corruption.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §328 Corruption is a Reciprocal to Generation.
1738 G. Smith tr. Laboratory viii. 214 Whatever is put into this Oil, will keep from Corruption..for Hundreds of Years.
1875 B. Jowett tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) III. 511 When the bodies of the dead were taken up already in a state of corruption.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > decomposition, melting, or crumbling away > of inorganic matter
putrefactiona1550
corruption1563
1563 W. Fulke Goodle Gallerye Causes Meteors v. f. 67 Copper in collour, comming nearest to golde..geueth waye to corruption, beyng infected with that greane minerall copperus.
1594 T. Bowes tr. P. de la Primaudaye French Acad. II. 133 They are subiect to corruption, and so are all the creatures that are compounded of the elements, whether they haue life or no.
1666 R. Boyle Origine Formes & Qualities 87 Those violent, Corruptions of Bodies, that are made by Outward Agents, shattering them into pieces.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > [noun] > destruction of essence or unity of a thing
perishingc1384
corruptiona1606
a1606 Blundeville Corruption is a proceeding from a being to a not being, as from an oak to chips or ashes.
1723 J. Clarke tr. Rohault's Syst. Nat. Philos. I. i. iv. 17 When a Thing is destroyed, or ceases to be what it was before, we call it Corruption; thus we say it is a Corruption of the Wood, when we see the Wood no longer, but only the Fire in the Place of it.
1845 J. H. Newman Ess. Devel. Christian Doctr. 62 Corruption is a breaking up..or..resolution into its component parts, which involves eventually a loss of unity.
a. Infection, infected condition; also figurative contagion, taint. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > production of disease > [noun] > infection
infectinga1398
corruptionc1430
infection1548
infecture1580
contamination1599
smittling1625
zymosis1842
autoinfection1871
mouth infection1903
c1430 J. Lydgate in J. H. Parker Some Acct. Domest. Archit. (1859) III. 39 Whereby the towne was utterly assured From endengerynge of all corupcion, From wycked ayre & from inffexion.
1598 W. Phillip tr. J. H. van Linschoten Disc. Voy. E. & W. Indies i. i. 2/2 Through the change of aire, and corruption of the countrie, I fell sicke.
b. Law. corruption of blood: the effect of an attainder upon a person attainted, by which his blood was held to have become tainted or ‘corrupted’ by his crime, so that he and his descendants lost all rights of rank and title; in consequence of which he could no longer retain possession of land which he held, nor leave it to heirs, nor could his descendants inherit from him.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > legal right > withdrawal or loss of legal rights > [noun] > attainder
tainder1469
attainder1473
attaintment1549
attainturea1552
corruption of blood1563
attincturec1575
attaindure1577
attaint1597
taintment1614
attaindrie1628
1563 Act 5 Eliz. c. 1 This Act..shall not extend to make any corruption of blood.
1632 Guillim's Display of Heraldrie (ed. 2) i. viii. 54 Moreouer that they shall sustaine corruption of their bloud and family.
1721 London Gaz. No. 5927/11 No Attainder..shall extend to work any Corruption of Blood.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 381 It is to be hoped, that this corruption of blood, with all it's connected consequences, not only of present escheat, but of future incapacities of inheritance even to the twentieth generation, may..be abolished by act of parliament.
1813 Sir S. Romilly in Examiner 22 Feb. 117/2 The next thing to which he objected, was the corruption of blood, which was a very different thing from the usual cases of forfeiture.
1862 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 3) App. ii. 414 In the United States..an attainder does not work corruption of blood.
3. concrete. Decomposed or putrid matter, esp. in a sore, boil, etc.; pus. Obsolete exc. dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > suppuration > [noun] > pus or matter
wursomeOE
yousterc725
warec1175
quittorc1300
corrumpciona1340
humour1340
atter1398
mattera1400
pus?a1425
filthiness1525
corruption1526
filth1561
gear1562
sanies1562
baggage1576
purulence1598
suppuration1601
lye1615
congestion1634
colluvies1651
collution1657
colloid1849
purulage1898
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > corruption or putridness > [noun] > corrupt or putrid matter or thing
filthOE
carrion1297
putrefactionc1425
pourriture1494
rottacka1500
corruption1526
septic1597
toad-pool1607
putrification1619
grave-jelly1657
putrilage1657
putrilency1657
putredo1680
putridity1790
putrescence1843
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > rotten or putrefying condition > rotten or putrefied matter
putrefactionc1425
pourriture1494
corruption1526
putrification1619
putrilage1657
putrilency1657
putridity1790
putrescence1843
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection iii. sig. QQQiiiv With a shell..he scraped the stinkyng fylthe and corrupcion of her deed body.
1574 J. Baret Aluearie C 1229 Matter, or corruption commyng out of a wound or sore. Pus.
1688 R. Holme Acad. Armory iii. 324/2 Hooked..Instruments..termed Drawers are to scrape out Corruption in a Wound or Bruize.
1889 E. Peacock Gloss. Words Manley & Corringham, Lincs. (ed. 2) (at cited word) All blud and corruption.
II. Moral.
4.
a. A making or becoming morally corrupt; the fact or condition of being corrupt; moral deterioration or decay; depravity.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [noun]
rusteOE
vice1297
corrumpciona1340
infectiona1398
corruptiona1400
foulinga1400
viciousness1440
inquination1447
turpitude1490
intoxicationa1513
pravitya1513
bracery1540
insincerity1548
corruptness1561
sophistication1564
faultiness1571
depravation1577
base-mindedness1582
mangling1585
reprobacy1591
uninnocence1593
vitiosity1603
turkessing1612
reprobancea1616
debauchedness1618
tortuosity1621
depravedness1623
deboistness1628
debauchness1640
depravity1646
corruptedness1648
moral turpitude1660
unprincipledness1792
demoralization1797
erosion1804
miscreancy1804
trituration1832
unwholesomeness1881
ne'er-do-wellism1891
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > [noun] > corruption
corrumpciona1340
corruptiona1400
subversiona1425
insincerity1548
corruptness1561
putrefactiona1622
corruptedness1648
putridity1823
putrescence1841
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Fairf. 14) l. 1553 (heading) Þe corrupcioun of þe lande ofter synne.
1526 W. Bonde Pylgrimage of Perfection i. sig. Ciiiiv That is it, that preserueth mannes soule from spirituall corrupcion of synne.
1599 J. Davies Nosce Teipsum 35 As from Adam all corruption take.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 107. ⁋1 The general Corruption of Manners in Servants is owing to the Conduct of Masters.
1849 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. (new ed.) I. ii. 168 Have the arts and sciences contributed to the corruption or purification of morals?
1856 J. A. Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. ii. 172 The clergy as a body were paralysed by corruption.
1874 J. R. Green Short Hist. Eng. People viii. 476 The blow at the corruption of the Court which followed was of a far more serious order.
b. (with a and plural)
ΚΠ
1340 R. Rolle Pricke of Conscience 4953 And clense it of al manere of syn, And of alle corrupcions, bath hegh and law.
1605 Bp. J. Hall Medit. & Vowes I. §16 My progresse so small, and insensible; my corruptions so strong.
1684 J. Bunyan Pilgrim's Progress 2nd Pt. ii. 137 The young Man had strong Corruptions to grapple with. View more context for this quotation
1735 J. Swift Gulliver Introd. Let., in Wks. III. vi Some Corruptions of my Yahoo Nature have revived in me.
c. Corrupting influence or agency.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [noun] > cause of
corrumpciona1340
corruptiona1340
ordurec1390
ulcer1592
taint1623
corruptive1641
depravation1711
virus1778
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [noun] > corrupting > one who or that which > corrupting influence or agency
corrumpciona1340
corruptiona1340
ulcer1592
corruptive1641
depravation1711
putrefier1895
a1340 R. Rolle Psalter Prol. 3 Þe whilk waxis noght soure thurgh þe corupciouns of þis warld.
c1386 G. Chaucer Parson's Tale ⁋825 Right so is a wikked prest corrupcioun ynough for al a parisch.
1813 Ld. Byron Bride Abydos ii. xx. 433 How oft the heart Corruption shakes—which Peril could not part!
1875 B. Jowett in tr. Plato Dialogues (ed. 2) V. 124 The love of money is the corruption of states.
5. Evil nature, ‘the old Adam’; anger, ‘temper’. Now colloquial or dialect.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > anger > [noun]
irrec825
gramec1000
brathc1175
wrathc1175
mooda1225
ortha1225
felonyc1290
irea1300
greme13..
thro1303
wrathhead1303
errorc1320
angera1325
gremth1340
iroura1380
brethc1380
couragec1386
heavinessc1386
felona1400
follya1400
wrathnessc1440
choler1530
blast1535
malice1538
excandescency1604
stomachosity1656
bad blood1664
corruption1799
needle1874
irateness1961
1799 C. Winter Let. in W. Jay Mem. (1843) 36 His corruptions were roused by the report.
1829 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 25 545 Fling doon the Stannard—if you dinna, it'll be waur for you, for you've raised my corruption.
1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd II. v. xii. 228 ‘Let alone my goods’..exclaimed I, for my corruption was rising.
1848 A. Brontë Tenant of Wildfell Hall II. xii. 213 I am no angel and my corruption rises against it.
6. † b. A case or instance of corrupt practice. Obsolete.
a. Perversion or destruction of integrity in the discharge of public duties by bribery or favour; the use or existence of corrupt practices, esp. in a state, public corporation, etc.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > control > [noun] > management or administration > improper or corrupt
corruptionc1425
misusage1532
malversationc1550
maladministration1639
mismanagement1659
malconduct1684
society > trade and finance > fees and taxes > illegal payment or exaction > [noun] > bribe > bribery
meedc1275
corruptionc1425
bribing?c1524
suborning?1532
bribery1560
budding1640
subornation1670
palmistry1828
palm-greasing1832
boodling1886
a greasing of palms1889
sugaring1891
fix1929
pay-off1930
schmear1950
long leg1967
c1425 Wyntoun Cron. vii. viii. 703 Quhat for corruptyown and inwy, Thare charge þai dyd nocht detfully.
1494 Act 11 Hen. VII c. 21 If any of the petit Jury toke..any some of money..after any suche corrupcion by the Graund Jury founden, etc.
1576 W. Lambarde Perambulation of Kent 127 Guy..escaped sone after, by corruption of his keepers.
a1600 R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie vii. xxiv, in Wks. (1662) 68 Simoniacal corruption I may not for honors sake suspect.
1651 T. Hobbes Leviathan ii. xxvi. 144 The frequent corruption and partiality of Judges.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. i. 14 It is not sufficient..that judges are superior to the vileness of pecuniary corruption.
1827 H. Hallam Constit. Hist. Eng. II. xii. 263 The real vice of this parliament was not intemperance, but corruption.
1880 J. McCarthy Hist. our Own Times IV. lix. 316 The ballot has not extinguished corruption in small boroughs.
ΚΠ
1621 H. Elsynge Notes Deb. House of Lords (1870) 14 The corrupcion wherewith the L. Chancellor was charged, viz., twenty-three severall corrupcions proved by wytnesses.
III. The perversion of anything from an original state of purity.† 7. Despoiling of virginity, violation of chastity.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > loss of chastity > [noun] > defilement of chastity or woman
brucheeOE
corruption1340
defoulingc1380
stuprea1382
deflorationc1400
defloweringc1400
violationc1450
vitiating1547
devirgination1606
vitiation1635
unmaidening1693
1340 Ayenbite (1866) 227 Maydenhod..to loki al hare lyf hare bodyes yholliche wyþoute enye corrupcion.
c1420 Metr. St. Kath. (Horstm.) 120 Thou schewest here a false reson, Woman withowt corrupcyon Never ȝyt chylde ne bare.
8. The perversion of an institution, custom, etc. from its primitive purity; an instance of this perversion.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [noun] > corrupting
adulteration1502
corrupting1565
empoisonmenta1626
debauching1645
corruption1654
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [noun] > misapplication > perversion
pervertinga1450
corrupting1565
inversion1616
perversion1622
obtortion1650
corruption1654
1654 J. Bramhall Just Vindic. Church of Eng. ii. 10 They who first separated themselves from the primitive pure Church, and brought in corruptions in faith, practice, Leiturgy, [etc.].
1656 J. Harrington Common-wealth of Oceana 3 The corruption then of Monarchy is called Tyranny.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1776 II. 52 Johnson: Afterwards there were gross corruptions introduced by the clergy, such as indulgences to priests to have concubines.
1867 S. Smiles Huguenots Eng. & Ireland iii. 54 The Huguenots..denounced the corruptions of the church, and demanded their reform.
1878 J. Morley Carlyle in Crit. Misc. 1st Ser. 201 To judge a system in its corruption.
9.
a. Change of language, a text, word, etc. from its correct or original condition to one of incorrectness, deterioration, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > [noun]
wrestingc1444
pervertinga1450
corruptiona1513
straining1528
writhing?1532
hacking1539
violence1546
racking1556
wrying1562
wringing1565
detorting1579
wrest1581
detortion1598
wrench1603
torture1605
distorting1610
violencing1612
refraction1614
misacception1629
distortion1650
distorture1709
misacceptation1721
torturing1753
verbicide1826
stretch1849
twisting1890
queeringness1955
the mind > language > a language > register > [noun] > corrupt language > corruption of
corruptiona1513
blending1892
society > leisure > the arts > literature > literary and textual criticism > textual criticism > version of text > [noun] > alteration by copyist or printer > erroneous
corruptiona1513
vitiation1635
paradiorthosisa1657
a1513 R. Fabyan New Cronycles Eng. & Fraunce (1516) I. xlvii. f. xvi It was called Caerlud or Luddys towne. and after by corrupcyon or shortyng of the speche it was named London.
1599 F. Thynne Animaduersions (1875) 6 Of necessytye, bothe in matter, myter, and meaninge, yt [Chaucer's text] must needes gather corruptione, passinge throughe so manye handes.
1634 J. Ford Chron. Hist. Perkin Warbeck i. sig. C2 Tell me..Is it [the writing] a sure intelligence of all The progresse of our enemies intents Without corruption?
1686 R. Plot Nat. Hist. Staffs. x. 417 It was ever after call'd Wulfrunes-Hampton, since by corruption of speech Wolverhampton.
1710 J. Swift in J. Swift & R. Steele Tatler No. 230 The continual Corruption of our English Tongue.
1861 F. M. Müller Lect. Sci. Lang. (1880) I. ii. 47 By phonetic corruption..not only the form, but the whole nature of language is destroyed.
1862 G. Rawlinson Five Great Monarchies I. viii. 215 His numbers having suffered corruption during their passage through so many hands.
b. A concrete instance of such alteration.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > [noun] > instance of
violence1546
wresting1551
wreathing1556
strain1579
wrest1581
mis-sense1615
by-signification1651
extortion1652
corruption1699
wrench1701
by-sense1782
corruptibility1847
torturing1855
twist1862
the mind > language > a language > register > [noun] > corrupt language > corrupt form
barbarism1589
corruption1699
barbarity1706
1699 R. Bentley Diss. Epist. Phalaris (new ed.) 228 As for the two other names, Aristodolium and Archebolion; the former is a manifest Corruption.
1711 R. Steele Spectator No. 80. ⁋9 I am not against reforming the Corruptions of Speech you mention.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 177. ⁋9 A copy..by the help of which, the text might be freed from several corruptions.
1856 A. P. Stanley Sinai & Palestine (1858) v. 233 Nâblus being the corruption of Neapolis.
Draft additions March 2004
Electronics and Computing. The introduction of flaws into software or data, esp. such that it becomes unusable or inaccessible by normal procedures. Also: the process of making a disk, card, etc., unusable by damaging the software or data it contains.
ΚΠ
1971 Real Time: Infotech State of Art Rep. 499 It is a fundamental requirement of any information processing system to ensure that the data..is maintained at an acceptable level of accuracy, and is protected against corruption.
1984 Computers & Electronics (Nexis) 18 Dec. 67 The corruption of even a single data bit can wreck a file.
1993 Macworld Dec. 64 (advt.) MacTools 3.0..continuously checks for disk corruption in the background, so small problems don't become disasters.
2000 Computing Canada 21 Jan. 14 All power problems can cause data loss or corruption, an expensive hazard for data-dependent businesses such as banks, government agencies, educational institutions and health care providers.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1893; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.a1340