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.
&fist; 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.
Cor*rup"tion*ist, n. One who corrupts, or who upholds corruption. Sydney Smith.
Cor*rupt"ive (k?r-r?p"t?v), a. [L. corruptivus: cf. F. corruptif.] Having the quality of tainting or vitiating; tending to produce corruption.
It should be endued with some corruptive quality for so speedy a dissolution of the meat.
Ray.
Cor*rupt"less (k?r-r?pt"l?s), a. Not susceptible of corruption or decay; incorruptible. Dryden.
Cor*rupt"ly, adv. In a corrupt manner; by means of corruption or corrupting influences; wrongfully.
Cor*rupt"ness, n. The quality of being corrupt.
Cor*rupt"ress (-r?s), n. A woman who corrupts.
Thou studied old corruptress.
Beau. & Fl.
Cor"sac (k?r"s?k), n. (Zo÷l.) The corsak.
Cor"sage (k˘r"s&asl;j), n. [F. See Corset.] The waist or bodice of a lady's dress; as, a low corsage.
Cor"sair (k?r"s?r), n. [F. corsaire (cf. It. corsare, corsale, Pr. corsari), LL. corsarius, fr. L. cursus a running, course, whence Sp. corso cruise, corsa cruise, coasting voyage, corsear to cruise against the enemy, to pirate, corsario cruising, a privateer authorized to cruise against the enemy. See Course.] 1. A pirate; one who cruises about without authorization from any government, to seize booty on sea or land.