Adulterate: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'adulterare', meaning 'to corrupt' or 'to defile'.
• It has been used in English since the late 14th century, primarily in the context of food and drink.
• In historical texts, it often referred to the mixing of inferior materials into higher-quality goods.

Food Safety

• Food adulteration is a serious concern worldwide, impacting health and safety.
• Common examples include watering down milk or adding cheaper substances to spices.
• Many countries have strict laws to combat food adulteration and ensure consumer safety.

Literature

• Writers use the concept of adulteration as a metaphor for loss of purity, seen in several classic novels.
• In poetry, the theme often appears when discussing the degradation of human values or culture.
• Notable authors, like Charles Dickens, critiqued societal adulteration in their works.

Philosophy

• Philosophers discuss 'pure' forms versus adulterated forms when considering the nature of reality and truth.
• The notion of keeping one's intentions 'pure' can be linked to the concept of adulteration, implying purity in thought and ethics.
• Debates around authenticity often reference the fear of modern society adulterating original ideas or values.

Digital Age

• In the context of data, 'adulteration' can refer to corrupting raw data with inaccuracies.
• Concerns over 'adulterated' information are prevalent in discussions about misinformation on social media.
• The rise of artificial intelligence has led to conversations about the adulteration of creativity and originality in digital content.

This word's position of #33,329 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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• 33326 incalculably
• 33327 excising
• 33328 december
• 33329 adulterate
• 33330 bicuspids
• 33331 gradualism
• 33332 monarchic
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