- viciate
- Vitiate Vi"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vitiated}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Vitiating}.] [L. vitiatus, p. p. vitiare to vitiate,
fr. vitium a fault, vice. See {Vice} a fault.] [Written also
{viciate}.]
1. To make vicious, faulty, or imperfect; to render
defective; to injure the substance or qualities of; to
impair; to contaminate; to spoil; as, exaggeration
vitiates a style of writing; sewer gas vitiates the air.
[1913 Webster]
A will vitiated and growth out of love with the truth disposes the understanding to error and delusion. --South. [1913 Webster]
Without care it may be used to vitiate our minds. --Burke. [1913 Webster]
This undistinguishing complaisance will vitiate the taste of readers. --Garth. [1913 Webster]
2. To cause to fail of effect, either wholly or in part; to make void; to destroy, as the validity or binding force of an instrument or transaction; to annul; as, any undue influence exerted on a jury vitiates their verdict; fraud vitiates a contract. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.