corrosion

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe act of corroding or the condition so produced.
2. countableuncountableA substance (such as rust) so formed.
3. countablephysicaluncountablechemistryErosion by chemical action, especially oxidation.

In a sentence

the corrosion of values

Where it comes from

1. Latincorrōdō“gnaw away, corrode”
2. Late Latincorrōsiōnem
3. Old Frenchcorrosion
4. Middle Englishcorrosioun
5. Englishcorrosion

From Middle English corrosioun, from Old French corrosion, or its source, Late Latin corrōsiōnem, accusative singular of corrōsiō (“gnawing away, corroding”), from Latin corrōdō (“gnaw away, corrode”).