2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Corruption  \Cor*rup"tion\  (k?r-r?p"sh?n),  n.  [F.  corruption,  L. 
  corruptio.] 
  1.  The  act  of  corrupting  or  making  putrid,  or  state  of  being 
  corrupt  or  putrid;  decomposition  or  disorganization,  in 
  the  process  of  putrefaction;  putrefaction;  deterioration. 
 
  The  inducing  and  accelerating  of  putrefaction  is  a 
  subject  of  very  universal  inquiry;  for  corruption  is 
  a  reciprocal  to  ``generation''.  --Bacon. 
 
  2.  The  product  of  corruption;  putrid  matter. 
 
  3.  The  act  of  corrupting  or  of  impairing  integrity,  virtue, 
  or  moral  principle;  the  state  of  being  corrupted  or 
  debased;  loss  of  purity  or  integrity;  depravity; 
  wickedness;  impurity;  bribery. 
 
  It  was  necessary,  by  exposing  the  gross  corruptions 
  of  monasteries,  .  .  .  to  exite  popular  indignation 
  against  them  --Hallam. 
 
  They  abstained  from  some  of  the  worst  methods  of 
  corruption  usual  to  their  party  in  its  earlier  days. 
  --Bancroft. 
 
  Note:  Corruption,  when  applied  to  officers,  trustees,  etc., 
  signifies  the  inducing  a  violation  of  duty  by  means  of 
  pecuniary  considerations.  --Abbott. 
 
  4.  The  act  of  changing,  or  of  being  changed,  for  the  worse; 
  departure  from  what  is  pure,  simple,  or  correct;  as  a 
  corruption  of  style;  corruption  in  language. 
 
  {Corruption  of  blood}  (Law),  taint  or  impurity  of  blood,  in 
  consequence  of  an  act  of  attainder  of  treason  or  felony, 
  by  which  a  person  is  disabled  from  inheriting  any  estate 
  or  from  transmitting  it  to  others 
 
  Corruption  of  blood  can  be  removed  only  by  act  of 
  Parliament.  --Blackstone. 
 
  Syn:  Putrescence;  putrefaction;  defilement;  contamination; 
  deprivation;  debasement;  adulteration;  depravity;  taint. 
  See  {Depravity}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  corruption 
  n  1:  lack  of  integrity  or  honesty;  esp  susceptibility  to  bribery; 
  use  of  a  position  of  trust  for  dishonest  gain  [syn:  {corruptness}] 
  [ant:  {incorruptness}] 
  2:  in  a  state  of  progressive  putrefaction  [syn:  {putrescence}, 
  {putridness},  {rottenness}] 
  3:  decay  of  matter  (as  by  rot  or  oxidation) 
  4:  moral  perversion;  impairment  of  virtue  and  moral  principles: 
  "the  luxury  and  corruption  among  the  upper  classes"; 
  "moral  degeneracy  followed  intellectual  degeneration"; 
  "its  brothels;  its  opium  parlors;  its  depravity"  [syn:  {degeneracy}, 
  {depravity}] 
  5:  destroying  someone's  honesty  or  loyalty  or  moral  integrity: 
  "corruption  of  a  minor" 

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