Word for the Wise, January 3

[Uadzit]

Topic: Turpitude

We admit to having always been more than a bit intrigued by the concept of turpitude, but, we hasten to add, our attraction has more to do with the sound of that word than with any baseness inherent in depravity.

The term turpitude made its way into English via Middle French and, before that, into Middle French via Latin, where turpis meant "vile, foul, base; ugly; shameful." At least three other turpis offspring have turned up in English: the now-obsolete verb deturpate, meaning "to become vile or debased" or "to debase;defile," and the legal turpis causa and turpis contractus. We'll put aside the legal turps for the moment and explain turpitude.

Turpitude denotes inherent baseness or vileness of principle, words, or actions; it can refer to a particular base act, and it can be synonymous with depravity. When paired with moral, turpitude refers to "an act or behavior that gravely violates the moral sentiment or accepted moral standards of a community, especially sexual immorality." When applied legally, moral turpitude is understood as "the morally culpable behavior held to be present in some criminal offenses as distinguished from others." The legal phrase turpis causa names "a cause or consideration that is base or immoral and therefore not sufficient to support a contractual obligation" . . . and turpis contractus is "an immoral and therefore unenforceable contract (as an agreement to servitude)."

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.  

[Eggy-Egg]

xDDDD "Turps" sound like "turds". x____x;;