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Debauch

A Dictionary of Law · Henry Campbell Black · 1891

A Dictionary of Law

To entice, to corrupt, and, when used of a woman, to seduce. Originally, the term had a limited signification, meaning to entice or draw one away from his work, employment, or duty; and from this sense its application has enlarged to include the corruption of manners and violation of the person, Inits modern legal sense, the word carries with it the idea of “earnal knowledge,” aggravated by assault, violent seduction, ravisiment.

2 Hilt. 323.