corrupt English · revision 7318

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1340|origins=la corrumpo}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kəˈɹʌpt/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[bor|fro|corrupt]] and directly from Latin corruptus,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) past participle of [[m|la|corrumpo|alt=corrumpere|t=to break into pieces, destroy, spoil, bribe]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) from cor-, an intensive form of com- before r, and [[m|la|rumpo|alt=rumpere|t=to break]] (see [[rupture]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) from PIE *runp-, to break.^(Etymonline) The verb is probably from the adjective, later felt as a borrowing of Latin corruptus.^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Corrupted, debased in character: 1340, in the ''Ayenbite of Inwyt'';^(Barnhart 1988) about 1325 in the OED.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Decomposing or putrid, and of language debased by alteration, are from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) as is guilty of dishonesty involving bribery.^(Etymonline) The verb, to deprave morally, is from the mid-14th century in Etymonline and about 1385, in Chaucer, in Barnhart;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) to influence by a bribe is late 14th century.^(Etymonline) ''Corrupt practices'' at elections is from 1563.^(OED 1989) Of computer data, damaged by errors, is a recent sense.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1340 – the adjective.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1385 – the verb, to pervert.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 14th century – putrid; debased; venal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1563 – corrupt practices.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[dishonest|alt=Dishonest]]; open to [[bribery]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Morally [[depraved]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Containing errors or changes, as a text.^(AHD)

+ # ''(archaic)'' Rotten or putrid.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To destroy the [[honesty]] or [[integrity]] of, as by bribery.^(AHD)

+ # To ruin morally.^(AHD)

+ # To make impure or rotten.^(AHD)

+ # To change a text or data so that it contains errors.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[corrupter]]

+ * [[corruptive]]

+ * [[corruptly]]

+ * [[corruptness]]

+ * [[corruptibility]]

+ * [[corruptible]]

+ * [[corruptibly]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[corruption]]

+ * [[incorruptible]]

+ * [[rupture]]

+ * [[disrupt]]

+ * [[erupt]]

+ * [[interrupt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}