Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Degrade
De-grade′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Degraded
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Degrading
.] 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 officerPrynne 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 manO miserable mankind, to what fall
Degraded
, to what wretched state reserved! Milton.
Yet time ennobles or
degrades
each line. Pope.
Her pride . . . struggled hard against this
degrading
passion. Macaulay.
Syn. – To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See
Abase
. De-grade′
,Verb.
I.
(Biol.)
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 generaWebster 1828 Edition
Degrade
DEGRADE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to deprive one of any office or dignity, by which he loses rank in society; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, an archbishop or a general officer.2.
To reduce in estimation; to lessen the value of ; to lower; to sink. Vice degrades a man in the view of others; often in his own view. Drunkenness degrades a man to the level of a beast.3.
To reduce in altitude or magnitude.Although the ridge is still there, the ridge itself has been degraded.