verdorben

Verdorben is a German adjective used to describe something that has spoiled, decayed, or become unsuitable, as well as something morally depraved or corrupt. In everyday language it is most common in the sense of spoiled food or perishable goods, for example: verdorbenes Obst or Milch ist verdorben. It can also apply to non-food items that have deteriorated in quality or function, such as verdorbene Waren.

In a moral or character sense, verdorben denotes corruption or depravity. It can describe a person or behavior that is considered morally ruined, as in verdorbene Moral, verdorbener Charakter, or a verdorbene Gesellschaft. The term conveys a strong negative evaluation and is often contrasted with terms like unverdorben (unspoiled, innocent).

Etymology and related forms: verdorben is the past participle of the verb verderben or its variant verderben/to spoil, formed with the prefix ver-. The noun forms include Verderb (spoilage) and Verderbtheit (depravity). In usage, verderben remains the verb while verdorben serves as an adjective or predicate adjective.

See also: verderben, Verderb, Verderblichkeit, verderbt.