depravato

Depravato is an Italian adjective and the masculine singular past participle of the verb depravare. In Italian, depravato describes moral corruption or perversion, applied to persons, acts, or attitudes that violate accepted norms. The feminine form is depravata; the plural forms are depravati (masc.) and depravate (fem.). In usage, depravato carries a strong negative evaluation and is used in formal, literary, and journalistic contexts as well as in everyday language.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin depravatus, the past participle of depravare (to deprave, corrupt). The Latin root pravus means crooked or perverse, and the prefix de- conveys a sense of removal or negation.

Usage and nuance: In Italian, depravato is typically linked to moral depravity or sexual perversion, varying with context. It is distinct from more technical terms such as pervertito or immorale, with depravato often implying a fundamental moral fault rather than a mere wrongdoing.

Cross-linguistic note: Related forms exist in other Romance languages, such as Portuguese depravado and Spanish depravado, with similar but not identical connotations.

See also: depravity, deprave, corruption.