deprave

[ dih-preyv ]

verb (used with object)

, de·praved, de·prav·ing.

1. to make morally bad or evil; vitiate; corrupt.
2. Obsolete. to defame.

deprave

/ ˌdɛprəˈveɪʃən; dɪˈpreɪv /

verb

1. to make morally bad; corrupt; vitiate
2. obsolete.
   to defame; slander

Derived Forms

• depravation, noun
• deˈpraver, noun

Other Words From

• dep·ra·va·tion [dep-r, uh, -, vey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• de·praver noun
• de·praving·ly adverb
• nondep·ra·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deprave¹

1325–75; Middle English depraven (< Anglo-French ) < Latin dēprāvāre to pervert, corrupt, equivalent to dē- de- + prāv ( us ) crooked + -āre infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of deprave¹

C14: from Latin dēprāvāre to distort, corrupt, from de- + prāvus crooked

Example Sentences

No possible amount of good to ever so many can make it right to deprave ever so few; happiness and misery cannot be measured so!

From Project Gutenberg

It prevents also such instruction in the classics as must necessarily deprave the estimate of woman.

From Project Gutenberg

Power and riches were chiefly to be dreaded on account of their tendency to deprave the possessor.

From Project Gutenberg

They would corrupt the morals, debase the manners, and deprave the tastes of the young.

From Project Gutenberg

Such engagements are always dangerous; sometimes they deprave the character of the man or woman.'

From Project Gutenberg