uncorrupted
Meaning
Not having been corrupted; free from corruption, dishonesty, or moral impurity.
(of data or a computer file) Not damaged or altered; remaining in its original, pure state.
Structure
Usage
The judge was known for his uncorrupted integrity throughout his long career.
We managed to recover an uncorrupted version of the document from the backup server.
The ancient text was found in an uncorrupted state, allowing historians to study its original message.
Etymology
The word 'uncorrupted' is built upon the core Latin concept of 'corruption,' which literally meant 'thoroughly broken' from corrumpere. This evolved to signify moral decay or the perversion of integrity. The Germanic negative prefix 'un-' is applied directly to the past participle form 'corrupted,' creating a straightforward negation. Thus, the modern term 'uncorrupted' logically denotes a state of not being broken down, spoiled, or morally tainted, preserving its original purity or integrity whether applied to character, data, or systems.
Analysis
- un: A prefix of Germanic origin (Old English) meaning "not," used to form negatives. - corrupt: From Latin corruptus, the past participle of corrumpere meaning "to destroy, spoil, bribe." The Latin root is com- (intensive) + rumpere (to break). - ed: A suffix of Germanic origin (Old English) used to form adjectives from nouns or verbs, indicating a state or condition.