depraving

1 definition found

depraving - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Deprave \De*prave"\ (d[-e]*pr[=a]v"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
     Depraved (d[-e]*pr[=a]vd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Depraving.]
     [L. depravare, depravatum; de- + pravus crooked, distorted,
     perverse, wicked.]
     1. To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile.
        [Obs.]
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              And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide
              Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. --Piers
                                                    Plowman.
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     2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt.
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              Whose pride depraves each other better part.
                                                    --Spenser.
  
     Syn: To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute.
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