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Webster 1913 Edition


Degrade

De-grade′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Degraded
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Degrading
.]
[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.
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 genera
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Degrade

DEGRADE

,
Verb.
T.
[L. A step, a degree.]
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.

Definition 2024


degrade

degrade

See also: dégradé, dégrade, and degradé

English

Verb

degrade (third-person singular simple present degrades, present participle degrading, simple past and past participle degraded)

  1. (transitive) To lower in value or social position.
    Fred degrades himself by his behaviour.
    • Palfrey
      Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.
  2. (intransitive) To reduce in quality or purity.
    The DNA sample has degraded.
  3. (transitive, geology) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

Derived terms

Translations


Portuguese

Verb

degrade

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of degradar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of degradar
  3. third-person singular imperative of degradar

Spanish

Verb

degrade

  1. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of degradar.
  2. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of degradar.
  3. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of degradar.
  4. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted?) present subjunctive form of degradar.