Middle English Dictionary Entry
corrupten v.
Entry Info
| Forms | corrupten v. Ppl. corrupt(ed & (rare) corrupe. |
| Etymology | From L corrupt-us, ppl. of corrumpere. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To destroy the form or existence of (sth.); destroy (form, perfection); bring to destruction or ruin.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Dan.7.14 : The rewme of hym..shal not be corrupte or distruyed [L corrumpetur].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)117a/b : Þe sterris ben..of most pure and simple kynde and nouȝt corrupt [L incorrupte] in schap.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)130b/a : Þe perfeccioun of heuenly matiere may not be distroyed noþir corrupt [L destrui vel corrumpi].
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)221b/a : It bereþ seed and þanne þe heed is corrupt and destroyed [L corrumpitur].
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)61a/a : If lich kepeþ his lich as contrarie corrupteþ [*Ch.(2): brekeþ; L corrumpit] his contrarie, more hote after nature nedeþ more hote helpes.
- ?c1425 *Chauliac(2) (Paris angl.25)113a/b : The lepre is þe moste errour of þe vertue assymylatyf, by þe whiche þe fourme i. schappe is corupte in all þe body.
2a.
(a) To corrupt (sth.) physically; impair the purity or soundness of (sth.); subject (the body or its parts) to infection, disease, or putrefaction; distemper (the humors); infect (air), pollute (water), etc.; (b) to putrefy.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))2 Cor.4.16 : Thouȝ the ilke that is withouteforth oure man be coruptid [WB(2): corruptid], nethelees that man that is withinne forth is renewid.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)3.221 : A body may be fordoo and corrupted, for hit is i-made of contrarie þinges.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.427 : Thanne semeth it..that half the partie of hire pryuee membres ben corrupt by the fyr of Seint Antony or by cancre.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)prol.922 : The purest Eir..is corrupt fulofte.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.765 : Thelementz ben servicable To man, and ofte of Accidence..Thei ben corrupt be sondri weie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)156a/a : Where fresshe watir renneth noȝt noþer cometh, stondyng watir is sone corrupt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)238a/a : If þe oyle is corrupt oþer watery, or y medled wiþ oyle drastes.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)42/14 : Lewide men..leie þerto a potage..[and] corruptyn þe lyme.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Wisd.9.15 : The bodi that is corrupt [WB(1): corumpid] greueth the soule.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)8/34 : Beute of body, þe whiche is corrupte & defouled with a litel siknes.
b
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2746 : The clothered blood, for any lechecraft, Corrupteth and is in his bouk ylaft.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.998 : If a man hadde a deedly wounde, euere the lenger that he taried to warisshe hym self the moore wolde it corrupte and haste hym to his deeth.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)103a/a : Leste þe hole partye corrupt, he spareþ noȝt to brenne oþir to kerue þe partie þat is rooted.
2b.
Ppl. corrupt(ed: (a) contaminated, impure, unsound; decomposed (matter); infected or diseased (body); deranged (humors); tainted or rotten (flesh); infected (air), polluted (water), spoiled (meat); ~ metal, debased metal; etc.; (b) infectious (disease); ~ time, bad weather.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.51 : Corrupte ayre, wylde bestes and venemous woneþ þerynne.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)25b/a : Ȝif þe vapour is malicious stinkinge & corrupt.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)52/19 : Þe corrupt mater þat is in þe place þat is brusid.
- a1450(?c1421) Lydg.ST (Arun 119)2564 : Thebes..was sette a-fyre..Of Cruel hate..engendred..of blood corrupt.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)21a/b : Of apostemez Som bene of materie noȝt adust ne corrupted, Som of adust & corrupt.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)168b/a : It soukeþ forsoþ & draweþ out corrupted bonez.
- c1436 Ipswich Domesday(2) (Add 25011)145 : That non of hem shewe to sellyn flessh of morreyn, stynkkyng ne corrupt.
- (1447-8) Shillingford92 : Ofte tymes hath be founde corrupte wyn, not hole..and sholde have be..caste yn the canell.
- ?a1450 Lanfranc (Add 12056)85/41 : Þou schalt remywe þe bon þat is corupe [Ashm: corrupt] on þis manere.
- (?a1450) Oath Bk.Colchester3 : Tho that sell corupt flesshe in the market ayenst the ordinaunce of this towne.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)5/17 : Corrupt watyr, stynkynge & infecte.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)4/3 : If ȝe be riȝt pore, þanne take corrupt wiyn..but not egre, þat is, sour.
- a1500 in Singer Cat.Alchem.1.5 : The Elixir a leven which is medecyne to all corrupe metalls.
- a1605(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Stw 952(2))18307 : Wyckyd humours & corrupt blood.
b
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2252 : A wylde fyr and corrupt pestilence So falle vpon youre bodyes yet to nyght!
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)258a/a : Ray..groweth among whete in corrupt tyme and druye.
- c1460(a1449) Lydg.Letab.(Hrl 2255)239 : Oold infeccioun Of Corrupt leprys, contagious of syknesse.
3.
To impair or prevent (an action or process).
Associated quotations
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)42a/a : Þe blak of þe yȝe..demeþ of þe coloures..& haþ likinge in myddel coloures..& is corrupt by þe utmest.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)46b/a : In sore teeþ þe worchinge is corrupt.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)266b/a : Þe concepcioun of þe male is corrupted for coldnesse of þe semen of þe asse.
4a.
To contaminate or corrupt (sb., the soul, etc.) morally or spiritually; deprave, pervert; make sinful; ppl. corrupt, sinful, depraved, heretical, etc.
Associated quotations
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)82/19 : Hare wyt is al myswent and corupt.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Eph.4.22 : Do ȝe awey..the olde man, that is corupt vp [WB(2): corrupt bi] the desyris of errour.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.504 : Corrupt was al this world for glotonye.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.333 : Of thilke Adam..flesshly descended be we alle, and engendred of vile and corrupt matere.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.461 : Alle we ben of o nature, roten and corrupt, bothe riche and poure.
- a1400 Cursor (Göt Theol 107)p.97 head. : How manes sinne..Corrupt all þis world bidene.
- c1400(?c1380) Cleanness (Nero A.10)281 : Þenne evelez on erþe ernestly grewen..he knew uche contre coruppte in hitselven.
- ?a1425(a1415) Wycl.Lantern (Hrl 2324)39/27 : Corrupt lyking of fleischeli lustis.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Gen.6.12 : Whanne God had seen the erthe to be corupt.
- a1450 3 KCol.(1) (Roy 18.A.10)153/12 : Nubiani..be trewe cristen men..Soldini..be sumdel corrupt in her feiþ.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.279 : Ne þat ȝe be noght be hire [fortune's] lustynesse Corrupt.
- (a1460) DSPhilos.(Helm)57/18 : Wyne is enemye to the soulle, for yf he take tomoche, it shal corupt his dedis.
4b.
To defile (a maiden) by sexual intercourse; esp., seduce or violate (a woman).
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.872 : Namoore may maydenhede be restored..neuere shal it be that she nas corrupt.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.912 : Leccherie..comth..ofte to hem that ben maydenes, and eek to hem that ben corrupt, and this synne men clepen polucioun.
- a1425 Wycl.Serm.(Bod 788)1.312 : Joseph wiste..þat, ȝif oure Ladi were corrupt in þis caas, she shulde be punishid.
- ?a1450 Arderne LW (Em 69)123 : Strangelynge of the matrice is a passyone that..falleth as wele only in maydenys that ben corrupt as in other wommene.
- c1450 Alph.Tales (Add 25719)137/14 : Þer was on a tyme a man þat..corrupte a maydyn.
- a1500 Discip.Cler.(Wor F.172)69 : Thei put in plegge al their possessioun..that he shuld corrupt hir withyn xv daies.
5.
To corrupt (sb.) by bribery; ~ for mede, bribe.
Associated quotations
- (?c1375-a1390) Chaucer CT.Mk.(Manly-Rickert)B.3579 : Genyloun Olyuer, corrupt for mede.
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.133 : Þe archebisshop..was corupt wiþ som manere mede.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pars.(Manly-Rickert)I.167 : Ne for preyere ne for mede he shal nat ben corrupt.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)2.1732 : The jugge..Which, corrupt, sat upon the dom.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)4.5849 : Þis prest..For gold..be-traisshed þe cite Of Troy..holynesse of so hiȝe degre May bene infect & corrupt wiþ mede.
- (?a1439) Lydg.FP (Bod 263)5.3060 : Iugurta..coruptid with tresour Many tribun & many senatour.
- c1440 Bonav.Medit.(3) (Thrn)200 : My disciple þai haue corupte to be þeire ledare to lose me, and haue boghte me for thrytty plates.
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.284 : William Worcetter..hathe..gevyn money to corupte certayne wytnesse.
6.
(a) To pervert the meaning of (a text); corrupt (an expression); (b) to mispronounce (a word or syllable); corrupt, faulty, incorrect (language).
Associated quotations
a
- (a1382) WBible(1) Prol.Prov.(Dc 369(1))2 : Whan most diligentli redeth he, wite he oure writen thingis to ben vnderstonde, that ben not coruptid.
- c1450(1410) Walton Boeth.(Lin-C 103)p.1 : This subtile matere of boecius..be noght be my translacioun Defouled ne corrupt, to god I praye.
- 1543(1464) Hardyng Chron.B (Grafton)p.114 : The commons..thought it..muche lighter in tongue to saie Englande Then..to call it Engistislande..thus came first Englandes name..corrupt per sincopene.
b
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.ML.(Manly-Rickert)B.519 : A maner Latyn corrupt was hir speche, But algates therby was she vnderstonde.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)185a/a : Þe libies called hem mabros in here corrupt and straunge langage of barbarie.
- c1400 Daniel *Herbal (Arun 42)f.35v : Modirwort: Lewed folk þat in manye wordes conne no ryȝt sownyng, but ofte shortyn wordes & changyn lettrys & silablys, þey coruptyn þe 'o' into 'u' & 'd' into 'g' & syncopyn, i. smytyn awey 'i' & 'r' & seyn 'mugwort.'
7.
Law To subject (a felon convicted by attainder) to the consequences of 'corruption of blood.
Associated quotations
- (1472-3) RParl.6.53b : Please it..to considre..howe that by the said Acte, the said Convictions and Atteyndres, your said Besechers been corrupted and atteynted in their blode, and they and their heires utterly disherited for ever.