n. [ L. depravitio, from depravare: cf. F. dépravation. See Deprave. ] 1. Detraction; depreciation. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme,
For depravation. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The act of depraving, or making anything bad; the act of corrupting. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The state of being depraved or degenerated; degeneracy; depravity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The depravation of his moral character destroyed his judgment. Sir G. C. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Med.) Change for the worse; deterioration; morbid perversion.

Syn. -- Depravity; corruption. See Depravity. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Depraved 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. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide
Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whose pride depraves each other better part. Spenser.

Syn. -- To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a depraved manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Depravity. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Depravity. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who depraves or corrupts. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a depraving manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Deprave: cf. L. pravitas crookedness, perverseness. ] The state of being depraved or corrupted; a vitiated state of moral character; general badness of character; wickedness of mind or heart; absence of religious feeling and principle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Total depravity. See Original sin, and Calvinism.

Syn. -- Corruption; vitiation; wickedness; vice; contamination; degeneracy. -- Depravity, Depravation, Corruption. Depravilty is a vitiated state of mind or feeling; as, the depravity of the human heart; depravity of public morals. Depravation points to the act or process of making depraved, and hence to the end thus reached; as, a gradual depravation of principle; a depravation of manners, of the heart, etc. Corruption is the only one of these words which applies to physical substances, and in reference to these denotes the process by which their component parts are dissolved. Hence, when figuratively used, it denotes an utter vitiation of principle or feeling. Depravity applies only to the mind and heart: we can speak of a depraved taste, or a corrupt taste; in the first we introduce the notion that there has been the influence of bad training to pervert; in the second, that there is a want of true principle to pervert; in the second, that there is a want of true principles to decide. The other two words have a wider use: we can speak of the depravation or the corruption of taste and public sentiment. Depravity is more or less open; corruption is more or less disguised in its operations. What is depraved requires to be reformed; what is corrupt requires to be purified. [ 1913 Webster ]