debauch

American  

[dih-bawch] / dɪˈbɔtʃ /

verb (used with object)

debauches, present (3rd person singular) debauched, past participle, past debauching present participle

1. to corrupt by sensuality, intemperance, etc.; seduce.

2. to corrupt or pervert; sully.

   His honesty was debauched by the prospect of easy money.

3. Archaic. to lead away, as from allegiance or duty.

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verb (used without object)

debauches, present (3rd person singular) debauched, past participle, past debauching present participle

1. to indulge in debauchery.

noun

1. a period of wanton or sensual self-indulgence.

2. an uninhibited spree or party; orgy.

   a wild debauch.

debauch British  

/ dɪˈbɔːtʃ, dɪˈbɔːtʃɪdlɪ /

verb

1. (when tr, usually passive) to lead into a life of depraved self-indulgence

2. (tr) to seduce (a woman)

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noun

1. an instance or period of extreme dissipation

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• debaucher
  noun
• debauchedly
  adverb
• debauchment
  noun
• debauchedness
  noun
• debauchery
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have debauched
  perfect
• has debauched
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am debauching
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been debauching
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are debauching
  progressive
• have been debauching
  perfect progressive
• debauches
  singular 3rd person
• is debauching
  progressive 3rd person singular
• debauching
  participle

Past

• had debauched
  perfect
• had been debauching
  perfect progressive
• was debauching
  progressive singular
• were debauching
  progressive plural
• debauched
  simple
• debauched
  participle

Future

• will debauch
  simple
• will have debauched
  perfect
• will have been debauching
  perfect progressive
• will be debauching
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of debauch

First recorded in 1585–95; from French débaucher “to entice away from duty, debauch,” Old French desbauchier “to disperse, scatter,” equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -bauchier, derivative of bauc, bauch beam (from Germanic; see balcony, balk; compare French ébaucher “to rough-hew”); hence, presumably, “to hew (beams),” becoming “to split, separate,” becoming “to separate from work or duty”

Explanation

Debauch means to destroy or corrupt someone's morals. Overnight fame and wealth might debauch a previously mild-mannered and altruistic actor. As a noun, debauch refers to a wild party characterized by excess. The old-fashioned meaning of debauch involved antiquated ideas about virtue and the idea that a person's "moral purity" could be corrupted. Today this word is mostly used when a person's integrity or principles are corrupted, often under the influence of money or power. You might say that artists debauch themselves when their designs show up on mass produced T-shirts. As a noun, debauch refers to an out-of-control party — in other words, a gathering at which one's morals might be corrupted.