depravity
Meaning
the state of being morally bad or evil; wickedness.
a morally bad or evil act or quality.
Structure
Usage
the novel explores the depths of human depravity.
he was shocked by the sheer depravity of the crime.
such acts are a mark of profound moral depravity.
Etymology
the word depravity originates from the latin term 'depravitas', which itself is built upon the adjective 'pravus', meaning 'crooked' or 'wrong'. the prefix 'de-' intensifies the sense, implying a complete deviation from what is straight or right. this literal notion of physical crookedness evolved metaphorically in latin to signify moral distortion and corruption. entering english in the late 16th century, 'depravity' thus came to denote the state or quality of being thoroughly corrupt or morally perverted.
Analysis
de- (latin prefix meaning 'completely' or 'down from'); prav- (from latin 'pravus', meaning 'crooked, perverse, bad'); -ity (latin suffix forming nouns denoting a state or condition).