vitiateadj.
/ˈvɪʃɪət/, U.S. /ˈvɪʃiət/ Now rare.† 2. Scots Law. Rendered null or void; interfered or tampered with. Obsolete.
1. Vitiated, depraved, infected, spoiled:
a. In predicative use.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > [adjective] > damaged
mangledc1400
shendedc1400
vitiate?a1475
appaired1475
wrack1487
maggleda1522
manka1522
mankeda1522
spiltc1540
massacred1590
through-galled1594
spoiled1598
flawed1608
impaired1611
damaged1771
scathed1791
waterlogged1795
spoilt1816
wrecked1818
injured1857
marred1870
buggered-up1893
messed-up1909
puckerooed1919
dinged1920
trashed1926
mucked-up1930
sheg-up1941
buggered1942
screwed-up1942
mucked-about1966
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1874) V. 213 A man viciate of body scholde not receyve ordres.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1872) IV. 427 Peple viciate and pollute, to whom hit was not lawefulle to offre.
1540 R. Jonas tr. E. Roesslin Byrth of Mankynde i. f. xxxvv Yf the matrice be peryshed or otherwyse viciat.
1541 T. Elyot Castel of Helthe (new ed.) i. 1 b Fyre..is the clarifyer of other elementes if they be vicyate or out of theyr naturall temperaunce.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved iii. 23 The Blood is..vitiate or corrupt.
b. Const. by or with.
ΚΠ
c1450 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi iii. lx. 140 Nature sliden & viciat by þe first man Adam þoruȝ synne.
a1464 J. Capgrave Abbreuiacion of Cron. (Cambr. Gg.4.12) (1983) 7 For þe elde bokes..þouȝ þei were mad ful treuly, ȝet be þei viciat be þe writeres.
1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndale ii, in Wks. 636/2 The scripture adulterate and viciate with false gloses & wronge exposicions.
1572 J. Bossewell Wks. Armorie iii. f. 7 Neyther with the sonne beame is viciate the sterre, Nor yet by the bearing of a sonne, the mother.
c. Used attributively.
ΚΠ
1551 R. Robinson tr. T. More Vtopia sig. Miii In their viciate & corrupt taste.
1665 G. Harvey Disc. Plague 15 Add thereunto the vitiate disposition of the air.
1913 A. Noyes Tales of Mermaid Tavern, Raleigh He never stooped, Never once pandered to that vitiate hour.
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > illegality > [adjective] > legally invalid or faulty > made invalid or faulty
vitiate1586
vacatec1688
1586 in Dunfermline Regr. (Bannatyne Club) 449 Ye auld assumptioun of ye said thrid is vitiat be ye said commendatouris proper deidis.
1593 Sc. Acts Parl., Jas. VI (1816) IV. 25/2 As ony pairt of the rent of dumfermling now viciat salbe recoverit.
1678 G. Mackenzie Laws & Customes Scotl. i. 269 It is said to be suspect, if..it appear vitiat by ocular inspection.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
vitiatev.
/ˈvɪʃɪeɪt/, U.S. /ˈvɪʃiˌeɪt/ 1.
a. transitive. To render incomplete, imperfect, or faulty; to impair or spoil.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [verb (transitive)]
forbraidc888
besmiteeOE
awemOE
filec1175
soila1250
envenomc1300
beshrewc1325
shrew1338
corrumpa1340
corrupt1382
subvertc1384
tache1390
poison1395
infect?c1400
intoxicatec1450
deprave1482
corrup1483
rust1493
turkess?1521
vitiate1534
prevary?1541
depravate1548
fester?1548
turkish1560
wry1563
taint1573
disalter1579
prevaricate1595
sophisticate1597
invitiate1598
fashion1600
tack1601
debauch1603
deturpate1623
disaltern1635
ulcer1642
deboise1654
Neronize1673
demoralize1794
bedevil1800
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > cause or effect (harm) [verb (transitive)] > do harm or injury to > affect detrimentally
atterc885
hurtc1200
marc1225
appair1297
impair1297
spilla1300
emblemishc1384
endull1395
blemishc1430
depaira1460
depravea1533
deform1533
envenom1533
vitiate1534
quail1551
impeach1563
subvert1565
craze1573
taint1573
spoil1578
endamage1579
qualify1584
stain1584
crack1590
ravish1594
interess1598
invitiate1598
corrupt1602
venom1621
depauperate1623
detriment1623
flaw1623
embase1625
ungold1637
murder1644
refract1646
depress1647
addle1652
sweal1655
butcher1659
shade1813
mess1823
puckeroo1840
untone1861
blue1880
queer1884
dick1972
forgar-
1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1303/1 Hym must we serue, though specially wyth the mynde (whych if it be not good, viciateth all together) yet..also wyth body and goodes and al.
a1631 J. Donne Serm. (1962) X. 95 A superstitious end, or a seditious end vitiates the best worke.
1665 T. Manley tr. H. Grotius De Rebus Belgicis 453 Other Advices were prefer'd, which..do many times vitiate, if not ruine, the most noble and valiant Undertakings.
1678 R. Barclay Apol. True Christian Divinity vii. §2. 197 This Doctrine of Justification hath been, and is greatly vitiated in the Church of Rome.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 25. ¶5 A continual Anxiety for Life vitiates all the Relishes of it, and casts a Gloom over the whole Face of Nature.
1738 W. Warburton Divine Legation Moses I. 166 Time, which naturally and fatally viciates and depraves all things.
1794 J. Hutton Diss. Philos. Light 124 It would only lead us into error, and thus vitiate the science or philosophy in which it were employed.
1808 J. Haslam Observ. Madness & Mel. (1809) i. 31 It might be urged, that in these instances, the perception was vitiated.
1851 J. P. Nichol Archit. Heavens (ed. 9) 60 Considering that a deviation from truth by the fraction of a hairbreadth, would vitiate the figure.
b. To corrupt (a) literary works or (b) language by carelessness, arbitrary changes, or the introduction of foreign elements.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > misinterpretation > distortion or perversion of meaning > pervert or distort [verb (transitive)] > literary work
vitiate1659
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > disregard for truth, falsehood > inaccuracy, inexactness > incorrectness of language > abuse language [verb (transitive)] > corrupt through error
vitiate1659
barbarize1728
society > leisure > the arts > literature > literary and textual criticism > textual criticism > version of text > create version of text [verb (transitive)] > alter or adapt (text) > erroneously
vitiate1659
corrupt1765
(a)
(b)1690 W. Temple Ess. Poetry in Wks. (1720) I. 243 Where~ever the Roman Colonies had remained, and their Language had been generally spoken, the common People used that still, but vitiated with the base Allay of their Provincial Speech.1742 Defoe's Tour Great Brit. (ed. 3) III. 4 It is observable, that the Normans could not well pronounce Lincoln, but vitiated it to Nichol.1756 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Pref. Many barbarous terms and phrases, by which other dictionaries may vitiate the style, are rejected from this.1790 J. Bruckner Crit. Diversions of Purley 55 Those who consider how much the language had been vitiated at the time they lived, by the importation of foreign words.1659 B. Walton Considerator Considered 198 The Septuagint..which we now have is the same for substance with that anciently used, though..by the injury of time, and frequent transcriptions vitiated.
1788 T. Reid Aristotle's Logic i. § i. 5 There is reason to doubt whether what [works] are his be not much vitiated and interpolated.
2.
a. To render corrupt in morals; to deprave in respect of principles or conduct; to lower the moral standard of (persons).
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > degrade or impair morally [verb (transitive)]
defacec1325
spill1377
rust1493
vitiate1534
abastard1573
invitiate1598
vilify1615
demoralize1794
1534 T. More Treat. Passion in Wks. 1311/2 We shulde note well and marke thereby, that the vice of a vicious personne, viciateth not the company or congregacion.
1659 T. Burton Diary (1828) IV. 59 This will not vitiate persons, but your nature and your posterity.
1682 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Rights Princes (new ed.) Pref. 13 Mankind is not so vitiated with prejudice.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 177. ⁋12 The suppression of those habits with which I was vitiated.
1770 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. xxxvii. 73 If any part of the representative body be not chosen by the people, that part vitiates and corrupts the whole.
1853 C. L. Brace Home Life Germany 258 In 1806, the army had become thoroughly vitiated by luxury.
1880 ‘E. Kirke’ Life J. A. Garfield 55 In short, he had only one fault, but that was radical, and in the end, vitiated the whole man. He was thoroughly selfish.
b. Similarly with impersonal objects.
ΚΠ
1584 R. Scot Discouerie Witchcraft v. v. 100 He being a spirit, may with Gods leaue and ordinance viciat and corrupt the spirit and will of man.
1598 J. Marston Certaine Satyres in Metamorph. Pigmalions Image 38 Many spots my mind doth vitiate.
1634 W. Habington Castara Author Pref. sig. A3 I encounter'd there..Innocencie,..not vitiated by conversation with the world.
a1674 T. Traherne Christian Ethicks (1675) 324 So doth one Vice cherished and allowed corrupt and viciate all the Vertues in the whole World.
1714 R. Fiddes Pract. Disc. (ed. 2) II. 93 Sufferings vitiate the best tempers.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 172. ⁋2 Many vitiate their principles in the acquisition of riches.
1837 H. Martineau Society in Amer. III. 263 The encouragement of an amusement which does seem to be vitiated there.
1847 R. W. Hamilton Rewards & Punishm. (1853) viii. 362 One sin of youth vitiates a protracted life.
1861 J. S. Mill Utilitarianism i. 4 To what extent the moral beliefs of mankind have been vitiated..by the absence of any distinct recognition of an ultimate standard.
c. To pervert (the eye, taste, etc.), so as to lead to false judgements or preferences.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [verb (transitive)] > so as to lead to false judgements
vitiate1806
1806 ‘Ignotus’ Culina (ed. 3) 120 Stomachs may be so far vitiated as to lose all relish for plain roast, or boiled meat.
1821 W. M. Craig Lect. Drawing ii. 103 This practice has such a tendency to vitiate the eye and to mislead the mind.
1845 J. R. McCulloch Treat. Taxation ii. vi. 237 It had the mischievous effect of vitiating the public taste and stimulating the consumption of ardent spirits.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > licentiousness > unchastity > loss of chastity > deprive of chastity [verb (transitive)] > a woman
forliec1275
defoulc1290
dishonour1393
defilea1400
file?a1400
spilla1400
foilc1440
diviciatec1470
foul?1473
fulyie1505
vitiate1547
dishonest1565
fray1567
out1922
1547 [see vitiating n. and adj. at Derivatives].
1624 T. Heywood Γυναικεῖον i. 35 Till she returned into her owne naturall forme, in which he vitiated her, and of her begat Achilles.
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ i. xxix. 56 This beuteous Maid [i.e. Venice] hath bin often attempted to be vitiated.
1675 R. Baxter Catholick Theol. i. i. 107 Being not..moved by him (as David to murder Urias, and to vitiate his wife).
1710 R. Steele Tatler No. 198. ⁋8 He confessed his Marriage, and his placing his Companion on Purpose to vitiate his Wife.
1769 W. Blackstone Comm. Laws Eng. IV. 81 It was a felony and attended with a forfeiture of the fief, if the vasal vitiated the wife or daughter of his lord.
1791 E. Burke Let. to Member National Assembly in Wks. (1823) VI. 36 Pedagogues, who betray the most awful family trusts, and vitiate their female pupils.
4.
a. To corrupt or spoil in respect of substance; to make bad, impure, or defective.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > cause bad condition in [verb (transitive)]
infect?1440
poison?a1513
violate1555
spoil1563
vitiate1572
waste1572
1572 J. Jones Benefit Bathes of Buckstones f. 15 For blood is the treasure of lyfe, not viciated.
1599 E. Sandys Europæ Speculum (1632) 103 As a dead Flie doth vitiate a whole boxe of sweet oyntment.
1608 E. Topsell Hist. Serpents 125 Euen as women in their monthly courses doe vitiat their looking-glasses.
1652 L. S. Natures Dowrie iii. 6 As much water cannot so soon be viciated as a lesser quantity.
1674 R. Godfrey Var. Injuries in Physick 33 The very texture of his Stomach and other vital bowels was vitiated.
1759 J. Mills tr. H. L. Duhamel du Monceau Pract. Treat. Husbandry i. xvi. 93 Farmers distinguish the wheat thus vitiated, by saying that it is blacked in the point.
1772 W. Buchan Domest. Med. (ed. 2) xlv. 598 When the saliva is vitiated..the curing of the disorder is the cure of this symptom.
1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola II. xiv. 161 The oncoming of a malady that has permanently vitiated the sight.
1882 Med. Temp. Jrnl. No. 52. 177 As I shall endeavour to show you, it vitiates the blood.
b. esp. To render (air) impure and so inadequate for, or injurious to, life.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > cleanness and dirtiness > dirtiness > pollution or defilement > environmental pollution > pollute the environment [verb (transitive)] > render air impure
vitiate1715
1715 J. T. Desaguliers tr. N. Gauger Fires Improv'd 34 The ill Humours which go out of their Bodies..vitiate the Air more and more.
1793 T. Beddoes Observ. Nature & Cure Calculus 137 Only a very small portion of the air was vitiated, i.e. converted into fixed air.
1869 E. A. Parkes Man. Pract. Hygiene (ed. 3) 118 The impurity of the air vitiated by respiration.
1878 T. H. Huxley Physiography (ed. 2) 84 This gas would unduly accumulate, and..vitiate the entire bulk of the atmosphere.
5.
a. To render of no effect; to invalidate either completely or in part; spec. to destroy or impair the legal effect or force of (a deed, etc.).
ΘΚΠ
society > law > rule of law > illegality > render illegal [verb (transitive)] > deprive of legal validity
abatea1325
squatcha1325
voida1325
allayc1325
annul1395
reverse1395
revokec1400
rupt?a1425
repealc1425
abroge1427
defeat1429
purloin1461
cassa1464
toll1467
resume1472
reprove1479
suspend1488
discharge1495
reduce1498
cassate1512
defease1512
denulla1513
disannula1513
fordoa1513
avoid1514–5
abrogate?1520
frustrate1528
revert1528
disaffirm?1530
extinct1530
resolve1537
null1538
nihilate1545
extinguish1548
elidec1554
revocate1564
annullate1570
squat1577
skaila1583
irritate1605
retex1606
nullify1607
unable1611
refix1621
vitiate1627
invalid1643
vacate1643
unlaw1644
outlaw1647
invalidate1649
disenact1651
vacuate1654
supersedec1674
destroy1805
break1891
the mind > mental capacity > memory > effacement, obliteration > cancellation, revocation > annul, cancel, revoke [verb (transitive)] > make void or invalid
wanea889
voida1340
avoidc1375
abolishc1475
disnull1509
disannula1513
annihilate1525
evacuate1526
aniente1528
extinct1530
disable1548
extinguish1548
solute1550
destitutea1563
exinanitea1575
cashier1596
devoid1601
shorta1616
supersede1618
vitiate1627
invalidate1649
out1653
vacate1662
exinanitiate1698
atheticize1701
squasha1777
invalid1827
negate1837
negative1837
unsanction1854
cancel-
1627 R. Sanderson Ten Serm. 360 An earthly Iudge is subiect to misprision, mis-information, partiality, corruption, and sundrie infirmities that may vitiate his proceedings.
1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 104 A Transposition of the Order of the Sacramental Words, does, in some Mens Opinion, vitiate Baptism.
1790 E. Burke Refl. Revol. in France 37 If all the absurd theories of lawyers and divines were to vitiate the objects in which they are conversant, we should have no law, and no religion, left in the world. View more context for this quotation
1827 T. Jarman Powell's Ess. Learning of Devises (ed. 3) II. 21 If an undefined portion of a bequest is to be applied to a purpose void by the statute, it vitiates the whole.
1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel IV. xii. xxvii. 191 I told them flatly..that, as Mr. Egerton's agent, I would allow no proceedings that might vitiate the election.
1883 Law Rep.: Queen's Bench Div. 11 568 The plaintiff is engaged in carrying out the illegal objects of the association;..and this circumstance alone vitiates the contract for repayment.
b. To render (an argument, etc.) inconclusive or unsatisfactory.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > testing > debate, disputation, argument > putting forward for discussion > put forward [verb (transitive)] > weaken an argument
vitiate1749
1749 D. Hartley Observ. Man i. iii. § i. 308 This will not vitiate the foregoing Conjectures.
1846 J. S. Mill Syst. Logic (ed. 2) i. v. §3 The theory of that intellectual process has been vitiated by the influence of these erroneous notions.
1866 J. F. W. Herschel Familiar Lect. Sci. Subj. (1867) 73 His proof is vitiated by an enormous oversight: and the thing..is a physical impossibility.
1878 B. Stewart & P. G. Tait Unseen Universe ii. §84. 94 It is this eternity of atom which vitiates the hypothesis.
a. To adulterate. Obsolete. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > condition or state of being mixed or blended > mix or blend [verb (transitive)] > add as ingredient to a mixture > qualify by admixture > adulterate
adulterc1384
feigna1398
sophisticatec1400
infect?1440
counterfeit1495
adulterate?1526
dash1548
falsify1562
elay1573
abuse1574
base1581
corrupt1581
debase1591
adulterize1593
compass1594
sophisticate1604
allay1634
huckster1642
hucksterize1646
cauponize1652
alloy1661
balderdash1674
impurify1693
doctor1726
vitiate1728
sand1851
dope1898
1728 T. Sheridan tr. Persius Satyrs (1739) ii. 35 It was Luxury first made us vitiate our Oyl with Cassia.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [verb (transitive)] > other
vitiate1753
1753 Scots Mag. Aug. 420/1 And William Taylor, for vitiating a bank-note.
Derivatives
ˈvitiating n. and adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > harmfulness > [adjective]
litherc893
scathefulc900
balefulOE
orneOE
teenfulOE
evilc1175
venomousc1290
scathela1300
prejudiciala1325
fell?c1335
harmfula1340
grievous1340
ill1340
wicked1340
noisomea1382
venomed1382
noyfulc1384
damageousc1386
mischievousc1390
unwholesomea1400
undisposingc1400
damnablec1420
prejudiciable1429
contagiousc1440
damagefulc1449
pestiferous1458
damageable1474
pestilent?a1475
nuisable1483
nocible1490
nuisible1490
nuisant1494
noxiousa1500
nocent?c1500
pestilential1531
tortious1532
pestilentious1533
nocive1538
offensivea1548
vitiating1547
dangerous1548
offending1552
dispendious1557
injurious1559
offensible1575
offensant1578
baneful1579
incommodious1579
prejudicious1579
prejudical1595
inimicous1598
damnifiable1604
taking1608
obnoxious1612
nocivousc1616
mischieving1621
nocuous1627
nocumentous1644
disserviceable1645
inimical1645
detrimentous1648
injuring1651
detrimental1656
inimicitial1656
nocumental1657
incommodous1677
fatal1681
inimic1696
nociferous1706
damnific1727
inimicable1805
violational1821
insalutary1836
detrimentary1841
wronging1845
unsalvatory1850
damaging1856
damnous1870
wack1986
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
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [noun] > action
illingc1220
annoyingc1330
impairingc1380
appairing1388
harminga1400
infection?1520
deringc1540
endamaging1567
hurtinga1568
maiminga1568
damaging1569
touching1590
butchering1618
damnificationa1631
poisoning1631
spoiling1632
vitiating1647
sapping1825
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [noun]
vitiating1647
villainizing1678
demoralization1797
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > damage > [noun] > damaging or injuring
spillinga1122
impairment1340
marring1357
damaginga1400
defacingc1400
spoiling1479
violation?c1500
facingc1540
deface1556
defacement1561
infection1563
spoil1575
endamageance1594
damagement1603
mismaking1615
empoisonmenta1626
vitiation1635
vitiating1669
spoilage1815
savaging1858
spoliation1867
mucking about1969
society > morality > moral evil > moral or spiritual degeneration > degrading or impairing morally > [adjective]
demoralizing1794
vitiating1832
abjective1865
pathogenic1969
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > [adjective] > harmful or injurious > in tendency or detrimental
injurious1559
marring1567
inimicous1598
blemishing1603
disserviceable1645
inimical1645
detrimentous1648
detrimental1656
inimicitial1656
inimic1696
inimicable1805
violational1821
detrimentary1841
vitiating1858
blotching1865
1547 J. Hooper Declar. Christe xii. L viij The deathe of his chyldre, the conspyricie of Absolon, the uiciating of his wiues.
a1552 J. Leland Itinerary (1711) V. 18 The Collegiate Chirch..was translatid to Abreguili for vitiating of a Maide.
1647 Earl of Clarendon Contempl. Psalms in Tracts (1727) 392 The yielding to every corrupt affection and passion is as great a vitiating and weakening of the mind.
1669 R. Boyle Of Absolute Rest in Bodies 27 in Certain Physiol. Ess. (ed. 2) Finding its passage obstructed..by the vitiating of the Pores of the Glass.
1832 J. S. Mill in Monthly Repos. 6 658 After all which has been done to break down these vitiating, soul-debasing prejudices,..where are we now?
1858 J. Martineau Stud. Christianity 275 A certain vitiating unsoundness of mind.
1859 ‘G. Eliot’ Adam Bede II. iv. xxix. 271 No man can escape this vitiating effect of an offence against his own sentiment of right.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1920; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.c1450
v.1534