Adulterate
/əˈdʌl.tə.reɪt/noun
To make something poorer in quality by adding another substance.
Did you know?The term 'adulterate' is derived from a Latin word that originally meant 'to corrupt' or 'to defile', often in a moral or ethical sense.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
adulterare
“To corrupt or defile, often in a moral context.”
Old French
Old French
adulterer
“To corrupt, to mix impure substances.”
14th Century
Middle English
adulteraten
“To make impure or less valuable by adding inferior elements.”
Modern English
English
adulterate
“To make something poorer in quality by the introduction of another substance.”