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Webster 1913 Edition

Degenerate

De-gen′er-ate

,
Adj.
[L.
degeneratus
, p. p. of
degenerare
to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr.
degener
base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind;
de-
+
genus
race, kind. See
Kin
relationship.]
Having become worse than one’s kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low.
Faint-hearted and
degenerate
king.
Shakespeare
A
degenerate
and degraded state.
Milton.
Degenerate
from their ancient blood.
Swift.
These
degenerate
days.
Pope.
I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the
degenerate
plant of a strange vine unto me?
Jer. ii. 21.

De-gen′er-ate

,
Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Degenerated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Degenerating
.]
1.
To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate.
When wit transgresseth decency, it
degenerates
into insolence and impiety.
Tillotson.
2.
(Biol.)
To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.

Webster 1828 Edition

Degenerate

DEGENERATE

,
Verb.
I.
[L. Grown worse, ignoble, base.]
1.
To become worse; to decay in good qualities; to pass from a good to a bad or worse state; to lose or suffer a diminution of valuable qualities, either in the natural or moral world. In the natural world, plants and animals degenerate when they grow to a less size than usual, or lose a part of the valuable qualities which belong to the species. In the moral world, men degenerate when they decline in virtue, or other good qualities. Manners degenerate when they become corrupt. Wit may degenerate into indecency or impiety.

DEGENERATE

, a.
1.
Having fallen from a perfect or good state into a less excellent or worse state; having lost something of the good qualities possessed; having declined in natural or moral worth.
The degenerate plant of a strange vine. Jer. 2.
2.
Low; base; mean; corrupt; fallen from primitive or natural excellence; having lost the good qualities of the species. Man is considered a degenerate being. A coward is a man of degenerate spirit.

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