Dictionary entry

Deprave

Webster's Dictionary 1913

De‐prave″ (dē̍‐prāv″), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Depraved (–prāvd″); p. pr. & vb. n.Depraving.] [L. depravare, depravatum; de- + pravus crooked, distorted, perverse, wicked.] 1. To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile.

And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide

Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman.

2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt.

Whose pride depraves each other better part. Spenser.

Syn. — To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute.