Total depravity

Total depravity
Depravity De*prav"i*ty, n. [From {Deprave}: cf. L. pravitas crookedness, perverseness.] The state of being depraved or corrupted; a vitiated state of moral character; general badness of character; wickedness of mind or heart; absence of religious feeling and principle. [1913 Webster]

{Total depravity}. See {Original sin}, and {Calvinism}.

Syn: Corruption; vitiation; wickedness; vice; contamination; degeneracy.

Usage: {Depravity}, {Depravation}, {Corruption}. Depravilty is a vitiated state of mind or feeling; as, the depravity of the human heart; depravity of public morals. Depravation points to the act or process of making depraved, and hence to the end thus reached; as, a gradual depravation of principle; a depravation of manners, of the heart, etc. Corruption is the only one of these words which applies to physical substances, and in reference to these denotes the process by which their component parts are dissolved. Hence, when figuratively used, it denotes an utter vitiation of principle or feeling. Depravity applies only to the mind and heart: we can speak of a depraved taste, or a corrupt taste; in the first we introduce the notion that there has been the influence of bad training to pervert; in the second, that there is a want of true principle to pervert; in the second, that there is a want of true principles to decide. The other two words have a wider use: we can speak of the depravation or the corruption of taste and public sentiment. Depravity is more or less open; corruption is more or less disguised in its operations. What is depraved requires to be reformed; what is corrupt requires to be purified. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Total depravity — (also called total inability and total corruption) is a theological doctrine that derives from the Augustinian concepts of original sin. It is also advocated by many Protestant confessions of faith and catechisms, including those of Lutheranism,… …   Wikipedia

  • Total depravity — Total To tal, a. [F., fr. LL. totalis, fr. L. tolus all,whole. Cf. {Factotum}, {Surtout}, {Teetotum}.] Whole; not divided; entire; full; complete; absolute; as, a total departure from the evidence; a total loss. Total darkness. To undergo myself… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • total depravity — n. in Calvinism, the utter depravity of humankind due to original sin and persisting until regeneration through the Spirit of God …   English World dictionary

  • total depravity —    The doctrine of total depravity is a perspective within Protestantism about the consequences of humanity s fall into sin. All Christians believe that humans are fallen, but they disagree over the nature and extent of the state. Within the… …   Encyclopedia of Protestantism

  • total depravity — Original O*rig i*nal, a. [F. original, L. originalis.] [1913 Webster] 1. Pertaining to the origin or beginning; preceding all others; first in order; primitive; primary; pristine; as, the original state of man; the original laws of a country; the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • total depravity — noun Date: 1794 a state of corruption due to original sin held in Calvinism to infect every part of man s nature and to make the natural man unable to know or obey God …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • total depravity — the Calvinist doctrine that humankind s entire nature, including its reason, is corrupt or sinful as a result of the Fall and that people are therefore completely dependent on God for regeneration. [1785 95] * * * …   Universalium

  • total depravity — noun Calvinist doctrine that all human action is tainted by original sin …   Wiktionary

  • TOTAL DEPRAVITY —    a commonly misunderstood CHRISTIAN doctrine taught by LUTHER and CALVIN but first formulated at the SYNOD OF DORT which teaches that humans are unable by their own efforts to please GOD and therefore entirely rely on His GRACE for SALVATION.… …   Concise dictionary of Religion

  • total depravity —  Тотальная порочность …   Вестминстерский словарь теологических терминов

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