a. [ L. corruptus, p. p. of corrumpere to corrupt; cor- + rumpere to break. See Rupture. ]
Who with such corrupt and pestilent bread would feed them. Knolles. [ 1913 Webster ]
At what ease
Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt
To swear against you. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. t.
Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1. Cor. xv. 33. [ 1913 Webster ]
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge
That no king can corrupt. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
He that makes an ill use of it [ language ], though he does not corrupt the fountains of knowledge, . . . yet he stops the pines. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt. Matt. vi. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]
v. i.
n. One who corrupts; one who vitiates or taints;
a. Tending to corrupt; full of corruption. [ Obs. ] “Corruptful bribes.” Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ L. corruptibilitas: cf. F. corruptibilité. ] The quality of being corruptible; the possibility or liability of being corrupted; corruptibleness. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ L. corruptibilis: cf. F. corruptible. ]
Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold. 1 Pet. i. 18. [ 1913 Webster ]
They systematically corrupt very corruptible race. Burke.
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n. That which may decay and perish; the human body. [ Archaic ] 1 Cor. xv. 53. [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a manner that corrupts. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ F. corruption, L. corruptio. ]
The inducing and accelerating of putrefaction is a subject of very universal inquiry; for corruption is a reciprocal to “generation”. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
It was necessary, by exposing the gross corruptions of monasteries, . . . to exite popular indignation against them. Hallam. [ 1913 Webster ]
They abstained from some of the worst methods of corruption usual to their party in its earlier days. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]
☞ Corruption, when applied to officers, trustees, etc., signifies the inducing a violation of duty by means of pecuniary considerations. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ]
Corruption of blood (Law),
Corruption of blood can be removed only by act of Parliament. Blackstone.