A*dul"ter*ate (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p.
p. Adulterated (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n.
Adulterating (&?;).] [L. adulteratus, p. p. of
adulterare, fr. adulter adulterer, prob. fr. ad +
alter other, properly one who approaches another on account of
unlawful love. Cf. Advoutry.]
1. To defile by adultery. [Obs.]
Milton.
2. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an
admixture of a foreign or a baser substance; as, to adulterate food,
drink, drugs, coin, etc.
The present war has . . . adulterated our tongue with
strange words.
Spectator.
Syn. -- To corrupt; defile; debase; contaminate; vitiate;
sophisticate.
A*dul"ter*ate, v. i. To commit
adultery. [Obs.]
A*dul"ter*ate (&?;), a. 1.
Tainted with adultery.
2. Debased by the admixture of a foreign substance;
adulterated; spurious.
-- A*dul"ter*ate*ly, adv. --
A*dul"ter*ate*ness, n.
