Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COR-RUPT', v.t. [L. corruptus, from corrumpo, con and rumpo, for rupo, to break; Fr. corrompre; It. corrompere; Sp. corromper. Class Rb. Literally, to break, separate, or dissolve. Hence,]

1. To change from a sound to a putrid or putrescent state; to separate the component parts of a body, as by a natural process, which is accompanied by a fetid smell.
2. To vitiate or deprave; to change from good to bad. Evil communications corrupt good manners. – 1 Cor. xv.
3. To waste, spoil or consume. Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt. – Matth. vi.
4. To defile or pollute. – Ex. xxxii.
5. To entice from good and allure to evil. – 2 Cor. xi.
6. To pervert; to break, disobey or make void. – Mal. ii.
7. To pervert or vitiate integrity; to bribe; as, to corrupt a judge.
8. To debase or render impure, by alterations or innovations; as, to corrupt language.
9. To pervert; to falsify; to infect with errors; as, to corrupt the sacred text.