Debauch Definition

dĭ-bôch
debauched, debauches, debauching
verb
debauched, debauches, debauching
To lead astray morally; corrupt; deprave.
Webster's New World
To seduce (someone).
American Heritage
To reduce the value, quality, or excellence of; debase.
Debauch a currency.
American Heritage
To cause to forsake allegiance.
American Heritage
To indulge in dissipation.
American Heritage
noun
debauches
The act or a period of debauchery.
American Heritage
Webster's New World
An orgy.
Webster's New World

An act of debauchery.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Debauch

Noun

Singular:
debauch
Plural:
debauches

Origin of Debauch

  • 1590s, from Middle French desbaucher (“entice from work or duty”), from Old French desbaucher (“to lead astray”), from des- + bauch (“beam”), from Frankish *balko, from Proto-Germanic *balkô, from Proto-Indo-European *bhelg- (“beam, plank”); latter origin of balk.

    From Wiktionary

  • Evolution of sense unclear; may be literally “to shave/trim wood to make a beam” or may be “to leave/lure someone from a workshop”, Frankish *balko perhaps also meaning “workshop”.

    From Wiktionary

  • French débaucher from Old French desbauchier to lead astray, roughhew timber des- de- bauch beam of Germanic origin

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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