Lexical Definition

‎φθείρω‎ phtheírō (fthi'-ro) to destroy ^G:V
probably strengthened from (to pine or waste)

corrupt (self), defile, destroy.

• properly, to shrivel or wither, i.e. to spoil (by any process) or (generally) to ruin (especially figuratively, by moral influences, to deprave)

Abbott-Smith

φθείρω [in LXX chiefly for שׁחת hi., pi., also for חבל, etc. ;]
to destroy, corrupt, spoil (on the varied usage and distinctive meaning of the word, v. Mayor on II Pe, App., 175 ff.): c. acc., I Co 3:17 15:23, II Co 7:2; seq. ἀπό, II Co 11:3; ἐν, II Pe 2:12, Ju 10, Re 19:2; κατά, Eph 4:22 (cf. δια-, κατα-φθείρω).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

φθείρω,

Aeolic dialect φθέρρω Hdn.Gr. 2.303, +others; [Refs 4th c.AD+] φθήρω [Refs 4th c.BC+]imperfect φθείρεσκε [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future φθερῶ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect φθερέω (δια-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Epic dialect φθέρσω (δια-) [Refs 8th c.BC+]: aorist 1 ἔφθειρα [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔφθαρκα [Refs 5th c.BC+] participle ἐφθορκώς [Refs 4th c.BC+] —middle, future φθεροῦμαι (in passive sense) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect φθερέομαι (δια-) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; later φθαροῦμαι [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:— passive, future φθᾰρήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+], Doric dialect -ησοῦμαι[Refs 5th c.BC+]aorist ἐφθάρην [ᾰ] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; poetry 3rd.pers. plural ἔφθαρεν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: also participle κατα-φθερείς [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect ἔφθαρμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+], 3rd.pers. plural ἐφθάραται [Refs 5th c.BC+]; infinitive ἐφθάρθαι [Refs 4th c.BC+], Aeolic dialect ἔφθορθαι [Refs]: pluperfect 3rd.pers. plural ἐφθάρατο [φθείρω">Refs 5th c.BC+] is much more frequently than the simple Verb:—destroy things, μῆλα κακοὶ φθείρουσι νομῆες [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φ. τῶν Συρίων τοὺς κλήρους waste them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰς ναῦς see reading in [Refs 5th c.BC+] (also absolutely, miscarry, [Refs]; τὸν κοινὸν οἶκον Mitteis [Refs 2nd c.BC+]: —passive, to be destroyed, [Refs 5th c.BC+]pass away, cease to be, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of animals, perish, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

__2 of persons, μαψαῦραι... ναύτας φ. destroy them, [Refs 8th c.BC+] (but perhaps only active of signification[Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔφθαρμαι I am undone! [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__3 corrupt, bribe, τινα [Refs 1st c.BC+]; lure, entice, trap, κημοῖσι πλεκτοῖς πορφύρας φθείρει γένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]entices to its ruin, entraps, [Refs]; pervert, φθείρουσιν ἤθη χρήσθ᾽ ὁμιλίαι κακαί [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, see below [Refs]
__3.b seduce a woman, ὑπὸ τῆς θυγατρὸς ἀδικούμενον καὶ Διονυσίου τοῦ φθείραντος αὐτὴν κιναίδου [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (but not Attic dialect accusative to [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__4 ruin, spoil, ποσὶν φθείροντα πλοῦτον ἀργυρωνήτους θ᾽ ὑφάς, of one who treads on rich carpets, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; βαφὰς φθείρουσα τοῦ ποικίλματος, of blood, [Refs]; of a poison, ὧνπερ ἂν θίγῃ, φθείρει τὰ πάντα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δούλην (wet-nurse) μὴ φθείρουσαν τὸ γάλα [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__5 τὰ μιγνύμενα τῶν χρωμάτων οἱ βαφεῖς φθείρεσθαι καὶ φθοράν τὴν μῖξιν ὀνομάζουσιν [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II passive (compare above 1.1, 2),
__II.1 φθείρεσθε (as a curse) may you perish! ruin take you! [Refs 8th c.BC+]; φθείρου as an imprecation, go to the devil! be off! [Refs 5th c.BC+] off from her! unhand her, let her go, [Refs 5th c.BC+] if thou dost not depart... [Refs]
__II.1.b with a preposition, φθείρεσθαι πρὸς τοὺς πλουσίους, of hangers-on and flatterers, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.2 in Medicine texts, ἡ κοιλίη φθαρήσεται will be deranged, disordered, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 to be morally corrupted, ἐφθάρη ἡ γῆ ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ [LXX+3rd c.BC+]; but ἐν Σικυωνίαι ἐφθαρμένους is falsa lectio for{ἐν Σικυῶνι διεφθ}. (conjecture Sintenis) in [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.4 of seafarers, wander, drift [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ναυτίλους ἐφθαρμένους sailors driven out of their course, [Refs]; of shipwrecked persons, νεῶν (ἐκ νεῶν Elmsl.) φθαρέντες [Refs 4th c.BC+]; also of travellers or wanderers by land, οὐχ ἕνα νομίζων φθείρεται πόλεως νόμον (variant{τόπον}) [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐδὲν δεῖ φθείρεσθαι περιόντα (={περιιόντα}) τὴν ἀρχὴν ἅπασαν [Refs 1st c.AD+]; μὴ περιΐδῃς ἀγαθοὺς γείτονας εἰς στενὸν τοῦ καιροῦ φθειρομένους[Refs 2nd c.AD+]; φθαρῆναι εἰς βάρβαρα ἔθνη (ἐν βαρβάροις ἔθνεσι or ἔθεσι codices) [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; φθαρέντων ἐς ἀλλήλους falling foul of one another, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.5 of women, χέρσους φθαρῆναι pine away in barrenness, [Refs 5th c.BC+] (unless wander, compare above [Refs]ksárati 'flow', later 'wane, perish', Avest. γζ?\~Xαρ- and ζ?\~Xγαρ- 'flow'.)

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Gen.6.11 ☩ LXX.Hos.9.9}