DEGRADE
degrade, cheapen
(verb) lower the grade of something; reduce its worth
degrade
(verb) reduce the level of land, as by erosion
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
degrade (third-person singular simple present degrades, present participle degrading, simple past and past participle degraded)
(transitive) To lower in value or social position.
(intransitive, ergative) To reduce in quality or purity.
(transitive, geology) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
Source: Wiktionary
De*grade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Degrading.] Etym: [F. dégrader, LL. degradare, fr. L. de- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree.]
1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in rank' to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general officer. Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar. Palfrey.
2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man. O miserable mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! Milton. He pride . . . struggled hard against this degrading passion. Macaulay.
3. (Geol.)
Definition: To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
Syn.
– To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase.
De*grade", v. i. (Biol.)
Definition: To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure; as, a family of plants or animals degrades through this or that genus or group of genera.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
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