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.
© Webster 1913.
A*dul"ter*ate, v. i.
To commit adultery.
[Obs.]
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.