erosionn.
/ɪˈrəʊʒən/ 1.
a. The action or process of eroding; the state or fact of being eroded. spec. in Geology: cf. erode v. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > condition of matter > bad condition of matter > [noun] > loss of material > wearing away
wearing1473
erosion?1541
forwearing1609
wear1729
fret1822
the world > the earth > structure of the earth > formation of features > erosion or weathering > [noun]
deterration1686
undermining1693
erosion1774
corrosion1781
degradation1799
denudation1811
corrasion1875
?1541 R. Copland Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens sig. Aij v Holowe vlceres..procede of two causes, that is to wete of excysyon and of eroysion.
?1541 R. Copland Galen's Fourth Bk. Terapeutyke sig. Aij v, in Guy de Chauliac's Questyonary Cyrurgyens Erosion.
1639 J. Woodall Treat. Gangrena in Surgeons Mate (rev. ed.) 383 By the extreme erosion or corrosion of causticke medicines.
1753 N. Torriano tr. J. B. L. Chomel Hist. Diss. Gangrenous Sore Throat 60 The Erosion or Rupture of the Vessels.
1774 O. Goldsmith Hist. Earth I. 202 Bounds are thus put to the erosion of the earth by water.
1813 J. Thomson Lect. Inflammation 369 The phenomena which it [ulcerative absorption] exhibits were denominated erosion by Galen.
1835–6 Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. I. 450/2 The erosion or absorption of the cartilages.
1849 C. Darwin in J. F. W. Herschel Man. Sci. Enq. (Lords Commissioners Admiralty) 189 Where ranges of cliffs exist, the marks of the erosion of the waves may sometimes be expected to occur.
1851 S. P. Woodward Man. Mollusca i. 41 We can often recognise fresh-water shells by the erosion of those parts where the epidermis was thinnest.
b. An instance of erosion.
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1710 T. Fuller Pharmacopœia Extemporanea 133 It [sc. the Electuary] is very profitable against..erosions of the Mouth.
1725 R. Bradley Chomel's Dictionaire Œconomique Ulcer, a Solution of Continuity made by an Erosion of the soft Parts.
1744 G. Berkeley Siris (ESTC T72826) §21 Ulcerous erosions of the inward parts.
1880 A. W. Kinglake Invasion of Crimea (ed. 4) VI. viii. 184 The tumours, the erosions of the gums.
2. transferred and figurative. Also concrete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [noun]
rusteOE
vice1297
corrumpciona1340
infectiona1398
corruptiona1400
foulinga1400
viciousness1440
inquination1447
turpitude1490
intoxicationa1513
pravitya1513
bracery1540
insincerity1548
corruptness1561
sophistication1564
faultiness1571
depravation1577
base-mindedness1582
mangling1585
reprobacy1591
uninnocence1593
vitiosity1603
turkessing1612
reprobancea1616
debauchedness1618
tortuosity1621
depravedness1623
deboistness1628
debauchness1640
depravity1646
corruptedness1648
moral turpitude1660
unprincipledness1792
demoralization1797
erosion1804
miscreancy1804
trituration1832
unwholesomeness1881
ne'er-do-wellism1891
1804 Ann. Rev. & Hist. Lit. 1803 2 352 The expenders of rents are the most unproductive and useless class of citizens; their income is a fairer object of erosion, than that of the industrious..classes.
1817 H. T. Colebrooke tr. Brahmagupta in Algebra 311 The erosion being subtracted from both diameters, etc.
1889 Sat. Rev. 23 Mar. 331/1 About twenty per cent. of the Government majority has disappeared by the natural erosion of bye-elections.
3. attributive, as erosion cycle, erosion territory; erosion theory: the theory which regards the contour of the land as due to superficial denudation rather than to subterranean agencies.
ΚΠ
1879 J. Le Conte Elements Geol. (new ed.) 251 Erosion inequalities, once commenced, tend to increase.
1937 Geogr. Jrnl. 90 376 Erosion-territory of the Great Ice sheet.
1946 L. D. Stamp Britain's Struct. & Scenery v. 37 It may be said that land-forms depend..thirdly on the phase or stage within the erosion cycle.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.?1541