debauch English · revision 1576

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /dɪˈbɔːt͡ʃ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|débaucher|t=to entice from work or duty]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from Old French ''desbauchier'',^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) a word of uncertain origin.^(Etymonline) It is usually explained as ''des-'' and ''bauch'' “beam”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) of Germanic origin and related to [[balk]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) The original sense would have been to trim wood into a beam,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) then to split or separate,^(Barnhart 1995)^(RHWU) and so to separate someone from work or duty.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To lead someone away from those to whom service or allegiance is due (before 1595).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From luring people away from their allegiance, the verb came to mean seducing them from virtue or morality (1603),^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) especially corrupting them by intemperance or sensual pleasure,^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) and seducing a woman from chastity.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The intransitive sense of indulging to excess is from the 1640s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the noun, a bout of indulgence, from 1603.^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1595 – to entice from allegiance.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1603 – to corrupt morally; noun, a bout of excess.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1642 – ''debauchery''.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1644 – intransitive, to indulge to excess.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1711 – to seduce a woman.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To corrupt someone morally, especially through [[sensuality]] or excess; to [[seduce]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To lower the quality of something; to [[debase]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(archaic)'' To lead someone away from allegiance or duty.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # To indulge in [[debauchery]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A bout of debauchery.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An [[orgy]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[debauchedly]]

+ * [[debaucher]]

+ * [[debauchment]]

+ * [[debauchee]]

+ * [[debauchery]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[balk]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House refers to ''debase'' for a discussion of synonyms.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}