English
corrupt
Corrupt comes from Latin corruptus ‘perverted, corrupted’, from rumpō ‘to break in pieces’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *Hrewp-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hrewp-‘break’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hrunépti ~ *Hrumpéntireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rumpōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErumpō‘to break in pieces’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrumpō‘to destroy, ruin, injure, spoil, corrupt, bribe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorruptus‘perverted, corrupted’past participle of corrumpō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500corrupten
- Englishearliest quotation 1603corrupt
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hrewp-‘break’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*Hrunépti ~ *Hrumpéntireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*rumpōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CErumpō‘to break in pieces’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrumpō‘to destroy, ruin, injure, spoil, corrupt, bribe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorruptus‘perverted, corrupted’past participle of corrumpō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500corrupten
- Englishearliest quotation 1603corrupt
Earliest quotation: 1603, Richard Knolles, The Generall Historie of the Turkes: “with such corrupt and pestilent bread to feed them.”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *Hrewp- ‘break’
route, rob, robbery, rover, robe, reaver, 23 more
through Latin rumpō ‘to break in pieces’
Today it means
adj Willing to act dishonestly for personal gain; accepting bribes.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *Hrewp- / corrupt