1. Excess in
eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; lewdness; debauchery. "The
first physicians by
debauch were made." (Dryden)
2. An
act or occasion of debauchery. "Silenus, from
his night's debauch, Fatigued and sick." (Cowley)
Origin: Cf. F. Debauche.
To
lead away from purity or excellence; to corrupt in
nature or principles; to mar; to vitiate; to pollute; to seduce; as, to
debauch one's
self by intemperance; to
debauch a woman; to
debauch an army. "Learning not debauched by ambition." (Burke) "A
man should have got
his conscience thoroughly debauched and hardened
till he can arrive to the
height of sin." (South) "Her pride debauched her
judgment and her eyes." (Cowley)
Origin: F. Debaucher, prob. Originally, to
entice away from the workshop; pref. De- (L. Dis- or de) + OF. Bauche, bauge, hut, cf. F. Bauge lair of a
wild boar; prob. From G. Or Icel, cf. Icel. Balkr. See Balk.
Source: Websters Vocabulary