corruptionlst 
COrruptionist (ko-rup'shon-ist), H. [< corrup- 
tion + -int.'] 1. A defender of corruption or 
wickedness. Hi/ilmi/ Smith. 2. One who en- 
gages in bribery ami other corrupt practices. 
'Hi. iiiM-niioii .-mil rapid diffusion of tlif word riirrup- 
tionijttH as a designation tor men n ho take bribes, or sup- 
port those \vli>> take tliem, is a Ki^'li of the times worth 
//.. \,,li,,,,, IX. tMl(l8<). 
These silent men |nho xuhniil to party inlluem <] are to- 
day till' worst eneini'-- M| tll<' llepllhlii'. They make it safe 
io,i, iraiid. They render it pnwtlcally Impoiiibli to over 
throw corruption! v I Is*-?., cxxill. 327. 
corruptive (ko-rnp'tiv), a. [= F. corni/itif = 
1'r. i-ni'nii'tiii Sp. Pg. corru/iticn = It. corrot- 
tirn, I'lirriittini.i \Ai.c<irrii/itinix,< 1 1. cin'i'ii/'tux. 
pp. of eorruiiiin'rc, corrupt: see corrupt, .] 
lla\in"; the power of corrupting, tainting, de- 
praving, or vitiating. 
ItshonM in- riiilui'il with . . . some corniptive quality. 
littii, \\orkHofCreatlon. 
corruptlesst (ko-rupt'les), a. [< corrupt + 
-less.] Not susceptible of corruption or decay. 
All around 
Th- borders with i-firruptletts myrrh are crowned. 
llt-itdfn, tr. uf Ovid's Metamorph., xv. 
corruptly (ko-rupt'li), adr. 1. In a corrupt 
manner; with corruption ; viciously; wickedly; 
dishonorably. 
We have dealt very corruptly against thee. Neh. L 7. 
O. that estates, degrees, and offices, 
\\ ere not tleriv'd cor ruptl it ! 
iSAo*., M. of V., U. 9. 
2. Ill law, with the intent of gaining some ad- 
vantage inconsistent with official or sworn duty, 
or the legal rights of others, by bribery or other 
corrupt means. 
corruptness (ko-rupt'nes), n. 1. The state of 
being corrupt; putrid state; corruption. 2. A 
state of moral impurity : as, the corruptness of a 
judge. 3. A vitiated state ; debasement; im- 
purity : as, the corruptness of language. 
comiptress (ko-rupt'res), . [< corrupter + 
-ess.] A female who corrupts. [Bare.] 
Peace, rude bawd 1 
Thou studied old corruptresx, tye thy tongue up. 
Flelther, Wife for a Month, iv. 3. 
COrsH, n. A Middle English form of curse 1 . 
corset, A Middle English form of corse 1 . 
corset, ". An obsolete form of course!. 
corsac, . See corsak. 
corsage (k6r-8iizh'), [< F. corsage, bust, 
trunk, body, < OF. cars, body : see corse 1 , C or- 
xct, corpse.] If (kflr'saj). The body. 2. The 
body or waist of a woman's dress; a bodice: 
as, a corsage of velvet. 
A drawing of corsair? or iHxlice In pale green silk. 
l-\:ft nightly Ren., N. S., XLII. 285. 
corsaintt, n. [ME., also corseint, -sant, -smiiif, 
(. OF. cors saint, < L. (ML.) corpus sanctum, holy 
body, or corpus sancti, body of a saint: see 
ciir/inxiiiit.] A holy body or person; a saint. 
citnucer. 
In especiull of the blessed corseynt and holy Virgyne and 
Martir Seynt Kateryn. Knglitli Wills (R. K. T. S.), p. 188. 
corsair (kSr'sar), . [Early mod. E. also cor- 
sarie, after Sp. Pg. ; < F. corsairc, < Pr. corsari 
= Sp. Pg. corsnrio = It. corsaro (> Turk, qur- 
san), a corsair, < Pr. corsa = Sp. Pg. corso = It. 
corsa, a course, cruise, = F. course, > E. course, 
q. v. Cf. courser 1 .] 1. One who cruises or 
scours the ocean with an armed vessel, without 
a commission from any sovereign or state, seiz- 
ing and plundering merchant vessels, or mak- 
ing booty on land ; a pirate ; a freebooter. 
He left a cormir's name to other tlmex. 
Linked with one virtue and a thousand crimes. 
Byron, The Corsair, III. 24. 
2. A piratical vessel ; sometimes, a privateer. 
There are many CanarittoT I'yrats which goc conning 
alongst that coast, robbing and spoiling. 
Uatluyt't t'oiiage*, II. 217. 
Barbary corsair* infested the coast of the Mediterranean. 
/Yl'XI'lllV. 
Joining a cormir'g crew, 
O'er the dark sea I flew 
With the marauders. 
iMnnMlmi; skeleton 111 Armor. 
Nearly 800 corxair* had sailed, during the war, from 
Dunkirk to prey upon English and Dutch commerce. 
/.((*;;, Eng. In 18th Cent., i. 
3. A scorpii'iioid fish, Xilmxticlttliyit roxaccus, 
witli smooth cranial ridges, moderate-sized 
srales, and pale, blotches surrounded by pur- 
plish shades on the sides. It is about l-J inches 
1<"I-. :l!iil nue of the most amintlant species of the genus, 
Inubttlm mther deep wat. T Moni: the raliforniaii coast, 
"M'e rut in next fohniltl. 
corsak, corsac (kor'sakl. . [Native name.] 
A species of fox of a yellowish color, 1'nlpr.v 
1283 
Corsair (Sibalt<t>il>v> raaseus}. 
I i..,,, Report of U.S. I- ih Commission, 1884. J 
corsac, found in Tatars and India. It is gregari- 
ous, prowls by day, burrows, and lives on bin Is and eggs. It 
of tenets, /.anil n 
let* are of leather. 
Dreasof German or 
Flemuh tiikeman 
about r6oo, from con- 
temporary enfrav- 
in*. 
mm* 
Corsak ( Vwtpfs rortac). 
resembles and Is a near relative of the little kit or swift 
fox of North America, \'l)tfn relox. Also called orfirw. 
corse 1 (k6rs), M. [< ME. cors, a body, esp. a 
dead body, < OF. cors = Pr. cors; parallel to 
the full form, corpse, < ME. corns, < OF. coriis .- 
see eorywc.] If. The living body or bodily 
frame of an animal, especially and usually of 
a human being ; the person. 
Be-war, as dere as ye haue youre owne forte and youre 
honour,- and alo the honour of two kynges, that ye go 
not on t e to batalle agcin hem, It or ye sholde haue to grete 
losse. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), li. 808. 
For he was strong, ajtd of so mightie corse, 
As ever wielded speare in warlike hand. 
Sjirnser, Y. Q., I. ill. 42. 
2. A dead body, especially and usually of a 
human being; a corpse. [Now archaic or po- 
etical.] 
The Dene . . . warnyn the brethren and sfstren to come 
to the derige and gon with the Cor' to the kirke. 
English Gild* (E. E. T. S.), p. 46. 
And as the soldiers bore dead Itodles by 
He call'd them untaught knaves, unmannerly, 
To bring a slovenly unhandsome corse 
Betwixt the wind and his nobility. 
Shak., 1 Hen. IV., 1. 3. 
'Twas not those souls that fled in pain 
Which to their corses came again. 
Coleridge, Ancient Mariner, v. 
A melancholy group collected alwut his cnrte, on the 
bloody height of Altwhacen. Irving, firanada, p. 70. 
3f. The body or main part, as the hull of a ship 
or the trunk or stem of a tree or vine. 
Kfor, as he saithe, the cors [of a vine! I delve in grounde, 
I'lie rootes \vol aliotinde and all confounde. 
PallaMtis, Hushondric (E. E. T. S.), p. 73. 
And all they thought none other but that the cor* of the 
galye shulde in lykewyse haue fallen to the rok at the next 
surge of the see, and so haue !'ii loste. 
NiV R. Guylfortle, Pylgrymage, p. 76. 
4f. Same as corset, I. 5. A plaited or woven 
silk ribbon used for vestments. M. E. C. Wal- 
cott. 
corse"t, ''. A Middle English form of curse 1 . 
corse 3 !, An obsolete form of course 1 . 
corse 4 t, v. i. [Early mod. E., also corce, coce, 
CIMIXC, < ciirncr, courser, a horse-dealer, a trader : 
see courser 2 .] To trade ; traffic, autchinson. 
cor. sec. An abbreviation of corresponding sec- 
n tun/. 
corseintt, . See cormiint. 
corselet, corslet (kors'let), . [= It. corsaletlo 
= Sp. ein-si-lctc = Pg. corsolete, < F. corselet, a 
corselet, dim. of OF. eors, body: see corse 1 , 
corpse, and cf. corset.] 1. Armor for the body, 
in use after tlie perfecting of plate-armor; spe- 
cifically, in the sixteenth century, the breast- 
and back-pieces taken together. 
flod guide thy han.1. an.! speeil thy weaium so 
That thon return triumphant of thy Fo. 
Hold, take my Corxlet, and my Helm, and Launce, 
And to the Heav'ns thy happy Prowes aduance. 
Sylmter, tr. of Dll Bartas'a Weeks, 11., The Trophies. 
Tlie Strings of which [Hearts], in Battles Heat, 
Against their very Cn,-*l,-t* beat. Prior, Alma, i. 
2. The breastplate taken by itself. 
The camlet plate that guarded his breast 
Was once the wild bee's golden vest. 
J. R. DraJtt, Culprit Fay 
corsive 
8. The complete armor of a pikeman, musket- 
eer,ctc.,consistingof breast :u,d 
back, gauntlets a rid t assets, wit li 
a morion Or Open headpieee. 
4. In zoiil.: (a) In nitoni., the 
thorax of an insect ; that part to 
which the wings and legs are 
:itt:ti'lied. In Cuteuptera the part 
usually no called i the prothorax, U-ar- 
ing only the lint pair of I. 
ly surpassing the other two se-ii 
the thorax in extent, (fc) In ii-hlli., 
a zone or area of scales, larger 
than the rest, developed behind 
tlie head and about the pectoral 
fins of certain scombroid fislies, 
as in the tunnies, ulbienres. 
bouitos, and frigato-iimekerels. 
(c) In conch., a ridge in the hinge 
of bivalves with an external 
ligament, with which the liga- 
ment is connected. [Rare.] 
corselet, corslet (kdrs'let), r. /. 
l< corselet, corslet, .] To encir- 
cle with or as with a corselet. 
[Rare.] 
Her anus, 
Able to lock Jove from a synod, shall, 
By warranting moonlight, corxlet thee. 
Fletcher (aiul another). Two Noble Kinsmen, L 1. 
corsementt, See cursement. 
corse-presentt (kftrs'prez'ent), n. A mortuary 
or recompense formerly paid at the interment 
of a dead body. It usually consisted of the best beast 
Itclonging to the deceased, and was conducted along with 
the corpse and presented to the priest. 
Tlie Payment of Mortuaries is of great Antiquity: It 
was antlently done by leading or driving a Horse or Cow, 
Ac. In-fore the I'orps of the Deceased at his Funeral. It 
was considered as a (lift left by a Man at his Death, by 
Way of Recompence for all Failures in the Payment of 
Tit hrs and oblations, and called a Cortt-pretent. 
Bourne's /'op. Antio,. (1777), p. 26. 
corseriet, " [ME., < corser, courser, a trader: 
see cors**, courser 2 .] Trading; traffic. 
It semeth. that alle doyng In this mater is cursed cone- 
rie of symonie, gevynge the sygne of holy ordrfs for tent- 
peral drit. Wyclif, Select Works (ml. Arnold), III. 283. 
corsesque (k6r-sesk'), n. [= F. corscsque, < 
It. corsesca, (. Corsica (L/. Corsica, also Corsis, F. 
Corse), because the weapon was used in that 
island. See Corsic/'M.] An old weapon like a 
spear, having on each side of the central blade 
another curved one, the two curved blades form- 
ing together a crescent with the sharp edge on 
the concave side. Sometimes, however, these 
blades had a secondary or outward curve sharp- 
ened on both sides. 
corset (kflr'set), n. [< ME. corsctc, corsette (def. 
1), < OF. comet (> It. cirrsetto, ML. corsetus), a 
close-fitting garment (def. 1), F. corse< (def. 3), 
dim. of cors, body: see corse', corpse, and cf. 
corselet. Cf. bodice, of similar origin.] If. In 
the middle ages, a close-fitting body-garment. 
The term seems to have been always applied to a garment 
having skirts and sleeves, but may have leii used for the 
upper part, or what might be called the iKxlfcc of such 
garments. In this sense also core. 
2f. A similar garment stuffed and quilted to 
form a garment of fence; a piece of armor, 
similar to the gambeson, worn by crossbowmen 
and foot-soldiers about 1475. 3. A shaped, 
close-fitting body or waist, usually made of 
quilted satin jean, stiffened bv strips of steel 
or whalebone, and so designed as to admit of 
tightening by lacing, worn chiefly by women 
to give shape and support to the figure ; stays. 
Often in plural, corsets. 
corset (kdr'set), t. t. [< corset, .] To inclose 
in a cornet. 
corseyt (k&r'si), M. An obsolete form of eorwire. 
Corsican (kor'si-kan), a. and n. [< Corsica (L. 
Corsica, also Corsis, > It. Corxira. F. Corse) + 
-".] I. o. Belonging or relating to Corsica, an 
island of the Mediterranean, north of Sardinia 
(formerly dependent on different states of 
Italy, but belonging to France since 1769. and 
now one of its departments), or to its inhabi- 
tants. 
II. . 1. A native or an inhabitant of Cor- 
sica ; specifically, a member of the indigenous 
race of Corsica, of Italian affinity. 2. The dia- 
lect of the Italian language spoken by Corsicans. 
corsite (k6r'sit), . [< F. Torse, Corsica, + 
-Hi-.'] A name given by Zirkel to rocks com- 
posed essentially of anorthite and hornblende. 
The name was taken in im a typical occurrence of rocks of 
this . lass on the island of i orsicn. It has never come 
into general use. 
corsivet (kor'siv), n. and n. [A contraction of 
corrosive.] I. a. Corrosive. 
