Deprave, n. t. [imp. & p. p. Depraved; p. pr. & vb. n. Depraving.]
Etymology: [L. depravare, depravatum; de- + pravus crooked, distorted, perverse, wicked.]
1. To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile. [Obs.] And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide Nor deprave thy person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman.
2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt. Whose pride depraves each other better part. Spenser.
Syn. -- To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute.
Shades of meaning
Fernald lists deprave only as an antonym, under cleanse.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.
Synonyms
none given