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Webster 1913 Edition
Debase
De-base′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Debased
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Debasing
.] To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase;
as, to
debase
the character by crime; to debase
the mind by frivolity; to debase
style by vulgar words.The coin which was adulterated and
debased
. Hale.
It is a kind of taking God’s name in vain to
debase
religion with such frivolous disputes. Hooker.
Syn. – To abase; degrade. See
Abase
. Webster 1828 Edition
Debase
DEBA'SE
, v.t.Definition 2025
debase
debase
English
Verb
debase (third-person singular simple present debases, present participle debasing, simple past and past participle debased)
- (transitive) To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.
- (transitive, archaic) To lower in position or rank.[1]
- (transitive) To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.
Synonyms
- (lower in character, quality, or value): abase, adulterate, degrade, demean
Derived terms
Terms derived from debase
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Translations
lower in character, etc
|
References
- ↑ Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.