English

Noun

pravity ‎(countable and uncountable, plural pravities)

1. (obsolete) perversion, depravity
   • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost:

     To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin
     Will reign among them, as of thee begot;
     And therefore was law given them, to evince
     Their natural pravity, by stirring up
     Sin against law to fight: that when they see
     Law can discover sin, but not remove,
     Save by those shadowy expiations weak,
     The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude
     Some blood more precious must be paid for Man;
     Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness
     To them by faith imputed, they may find
     Justification towards God, and peace
     Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies
     Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part
     Perform; and, not performing, cannot live.

   • 1775, Samuel Johnson, “Ostig In Sky”, in A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland:

     In some parishes the Lord's Prayer is suffered: in others it is still rejected as a form; and he that should make it part of his supplication would be suspected of heretical pravity.

   • 1831, Various, The American Quarterly Review, No. 17, March 1831:

     Still, it is possible, that a man's conscience may be so obdurate, as not to perceive the pravity of mendacity, when exercised for his supposed benefit, while he yet retains a regard for truth when engaged in relating his exploits to others.