Turpitudes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being morally depraved or wicked in actions and character
2. A concept describing a profound moral corruption or wickedness that taints one's virtue and integrity
3. An instance or condition of extreme depravity, illustrating a serious lapse from ethical standards or societal norms

Etymology: "Turpitudes" is simply the plural of "turpitude," so its history is that of the singular noun. English borrowed "turpitude" from Middle French, which had taken it from the Latin "turpitūdō," meaning "baseness" or "infamy." That Latin noun was built on "turpis," meaning "foul" or "base," the same root that gives the English adjective "turpid," meaning morally or physically foul. The Latin root carried a strong sense of disgrace from the start, which explains why the English word has always leaned toward moral corruption rather than mere unpleasantness. The plural form is used when someone wants to point to several separate acts or conditions of this kind, each one a distinct example of baseness.