vitiate
UK: ˈvɪʃ.i.eɪt | US: ˈvɪʃ.i.eɪt
vt. to impair the quality or efficiency of; weaken
vt. to debase or corrupt morally
vt. (law) to make legally invalid or void
vitiate = viti<fault, vice> + ate<verb suffix>
- viti<fault, vice>: From Latin vitium (flaw, defect, or moral fault).
- ate<verb suffix>: A suffix forming verbs, often indicating causation or transformation (e.g., "activate," "validate").
Etymology Origin:
The word vitiate traces back to Latin vitiare (to spoil, corrupt), derived from vitium (fault). It entered English in the 16th century, retaining its core sense of "to impair or corrupt." The morpheme viti- reflects the idea of flaw or vice, while -ate transforms it into an action. Over time, vitiate expanded from physical/spoilage (e.g., "vitiated air") to abstract/legal contexts (e.g., "vitiated contract").
The scandal vitiated his reputation irreparably.
Adding too much sugar can vitiate the flavor of the dish.
The judge ruled that the fraud vitiated the agreement.
Pollution continues to vitiate the quality of our water sources.
Her biased testimony vitiated the fairness of the trial.