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Webster 1913 Edition


Turpitude

Tur′pi-tude

,
Noun.
[L.
turpitudo
, from
turpis
foul, base.]
Inherent baseness or vileness of principle, words, or actions; shameful wickedness; depravity.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition


Turpitude

TURP'ITUDE

,
Noun.
[L. turpitudo, from turpis, foul, base.]
1.
Inherent baseness or vileness of principle in the human heart; extreme depravity.
2.
Baseness or vileness of words or actions; shameful wickedness.

Definition 2024


turpitude

turpitude

English

Noun

turpitude (countable and uncountable, plural turpitudes)

  1. Inherent baseness, depravity or wickedness; corruptness and evilness.
    • 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde:
      As for the moral turpitude that man unveiled to me, even with tears of penitence, I cannot, even in memory, dwell on it without a start of horror.
  2. An act evident of such a depravity.

Related terms

Translations


French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin turpitūdō.

Noun

turpitude f (plural turpitudes)

  1. turpitude (depravity, wickedness)
  2. turpitude (depraved or wicked act)