English

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Etymology

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corrupt +‎ -ive

Adjective

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corruptive (comparative more corruptive, superlative most corruptive)

  1. Tending to corrupt.
    • 1274, St. Thomas Aquinas, The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas[1], Benziger Brothers, page 915:
      The sensitive appetite is one generic power, and is called sensuality; but it is divided into two powers, which are species of the sensitive appetite---the irascible and the concupiscible. In order to make this clear, we must observe that in natural corruptible things there is needed an inclination not only to the acquisition of what is suitable and to the avoiding of what is harmful, but also to resistance against corruptive and contrary agencies which are a hindrance to the acquisition of what is suitable, and are productive of harm. For example, fire has a natural inclination, not only to rise from a lower position, which is unsuitable to it, towards a higher position which is suitable, but also to resist whatever destroys or hinders its action.
    • 1675, William Bates, The Harmony of the Divine Attributes[2], page 188:
      And as the body shall be spiritual, so truly immortal, and free from all corruptive change; as the Sun which for so many ages hath shined with an equal brightness to the World, and hath a durable fulness of light in it.
    • 1928, The North American Review Volume CCXXVI[3], O. Everett, →ISBN, page 67:
      So the exotic writer of Modernia prepares a reeking corruptive dish for his readers, o.r else an anaesthetic concocted from the malodorous flowers of the night.
    • 2007 January 28, Dorothy Samuels, “The George W. Bush Library: Scholarly Mecca or $500 Million Oxymoron?”, in New York Times[4]:
      Following the corruptive path blazed by White House predecessors, Mr. Bush and members of his library committee apparently plan to spend the administration’s remaining days trying to coax huge contributions to the budding library complex from friends and well-heeled special interests.

Derived terms

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Latin

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Adjective

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corruptīve

  1. vocative masculine singular of corruptīvus