from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vitiate \Vi"ti*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Vitiated}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Vitiating}.] [L. vitiatus, p. p. vitiare to vitiate,
fr. vitium a fault, vice. See {Vice} a fault.] [Written also
{viciate}.]
1. To make vicious, faulty, or imperfect; to render
defective; to injure the substance or qualities of; to
impair; to contaminate; to spoil; as, exaggeration
vitiates a style of writing; sewer gas vitiates the air.
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A will vitiated and growth out of love with the
truth disposes the understanding to error and
delusion. --South.
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Without care it may be used to vitiate our minds.
--Burke.
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This undistinguishing complaisance will vitiate the
taste of readers. --Garth.
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2. To cause to fail of effect, either wholly or in part; to
make void; to destroy, as the validity or binding force of
an instrument or transaction; to annul; as, any undue
influence exerted on a jury vitiates their verdict; fraud
vitiates a contract.
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