| 释义 |
cor·rup·tion
\kəˈrəpshən\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English corrupcioun, from Middle French corruption, from Latin corruption-, corruptio, from corruptus + -ion-, -io -ion
1.
a. : impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle : depravity
< the luxury and corruption … among the upper classes — W.N.Ewer >
b.
(1) : decay or decomposition of matter (as by rotting or by oxidation)
< corruption of the bone >
< corruption of metal >
(2) : decay of the body after death
< death had apparently devoted the body to corruption — Mary W. Shelley >
c. : inducement (as of a political official) by means of improper considerations (as bribery) to commit a violation of duty
< the corruption of officials by gambling bosses >
< exposing corruption in city politics >
d. : the changing or state of being changed for the worse : a departure from what is pure or correct or from the original
< the corruption of every art form >
< the corruption of the text introduced by copyists >
2. archaic : an agency or influence that corrupts
< the love of money is the corruption of states — Benjamin Jowett >
3. now dialect : a product of decomposition or putrefaction : putrid matter : pus
4.
a. : an instance of making or becoming corrupt : a result of perversion
< modern corruptions of religious faith — Reinhold Niebuhr >
specifically : an erroneous reading in a text
< a manuscript full of corruptions >
b.
(1) of a word or other linguistic form : change in form often consisting of substitution of the familiar for the unfamiliar or adaptation to the sound system of a language — not used technically
(2) : a word or form resulting from such a change — not used technically
c.
(1) of a language : change from an earlier form regarded as better or purer — not used technically
(2) : a language or dialect resulting from such a change — not used technically
5. dialect Britain : evil or irascible nature : temper |