corruptible, a.
(kəˈrʌptɪb(ə)l)
Also 7 -able.
[a. F. corruptible (14th c.) or ad. L. corruptibil-is, f. ppl. stem of corrumpĕre to corrupt: see -ble.]
1. Liable to corruption; subject to natural decay and dissolution; perishable, mortal.
(Chiefly in Scriptural phraseology.)
| 1340 Hampole Pr. Consc. 8860 Made of corruptybelle matere. a 1400–50 Alexander 3459 A coruptible kyng of clay fourmed. 1526–34 Tindale 1 Cor. ix. 25 They do it to obtayne a corruptible croune, but we to obtyane an vncorruptible croune. Ibid. xv. 53 This corruptible must put on incorruptibilite; and this mortall must put on immortalite. 1597 Hooker Eccl. Pol. v. lxvii. §7 The sacrament being of itself but a corruptible and earthly creature. 1692 Ray Dissol. World 29 They held that the World is corruptible. 1796 Southey Occas. Pieces v, The soul Inhabits still its corruptible clay. 1848 C. Brontë J. Eyre vi, In putting off our corruptible bodies. |
† 2. Pertaining to or characteristic of corruption; corrupt. Obs.
| 1586 Cogan Haven Health li. (1636) 65 Onyons..engender ill humours and corruptible putrifactions in the stomack. 1620 Venner Via Recta vii. 116 They..engender winde, and increase crude and corruptible humours. |
3. Capable of moral corruption; open to the influence of bribery or corrupt practices.
| 1677 Orrery Art of War 43 If an Officer..be false, corrupted, or corruptable. 1863 H. Cox Instit. i. viii. 98 The House of Commons..was itself corruptible. 1864 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. IV. 521 Corruptiblest brute of a Chancellor. |
4. Liable to verbal, textual, or phonetic corruption.
| 1887 Roget Old French 100 The persistence of an essentially corruptible m in some [forms] is a curiosity. |