Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “corrupt” come from?

Corrupt comes from Middle English corrupten, from Latin corruptus, the past participle of corrumpere, formed from the prefix com- meaning "together" and rumpere meaning "to break."

corrupt (English): In a depraved state; debased; perverted; morally...

Definitions

  1. In a depraved state; debased; perverted; morally...

Ancestry of “corrupt”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcorrupten—
2Latincorruptusperverted, corrupted; spoiled; contaminated
3Latincorrumpō—
4Latinrumpō—
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire

Words derived from “corrupt”

  • corruptly
  • corrupter
  • incorrupt
  • corruptive
  • uncorrupt
  • corruptness
  • corruptor
  • corrupteth
  • noncorrupt
  • corruptest
  • incorruptness
  • corruptress
  • corruptable
  • corruptively
  • incorruptly
  • corruptless
  • corruptful
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew- →