degenerate

degenerate
de•gen•er•ate
v. [[t]dɪˈdʒɛn əˌreɪt[/t]] adj., n. [[t]-ər ɪt[/t]] v. -at•ed, -at•ing, adj. n.
1) to decline in physical, mental, or moral qualities; deteriorate
2) to diminish in quality; fall from a high or normal standard:
The debate degenerated into a brawl[/ex]
3) pat (of an organ or tissue) to lose structure or function
4) bio evo (of a species or any of its traits or structures) to lose function or structural organization in the course of evolution, as the vestigial wings of a flightless bird
5) having declined in physical or moral qualities; deteriorated; degraded
6) having lost the qualities proper to the race or kind:
a degenerate vine[/ex]
7) characterized by or associated with degeneracy
8) phs Physics.
a) phs (of modes of vibration of a system) having the same frequency
b) phs (of quantum states of a system) having equal energy
9) a person who has declined, esp. in morals, from a type considered standard
10) cvb a person or thing that reverts to an earlier stage of culture, development, or evolution
11) a sexual deviate
Etymology: 1485–95; < L dēgenerātus, ptp. of dēgenerāre to decline from an ancestral standard; see generate de•gen′er•ate•ly, adv. de•gen′er•ate•ness, n.

From formal English to slang. 2014.

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  • Degenerate — De*gen er*ate, a. [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… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Degenerate — Degenerate …   Википедия

  • degenerate — [dē jen′ər it, dijen′ər it; ] for v. [, dē jen′ərāt΄, di jen′ərāt΄] adj. [L degeneratus, pp. of degenerare, to become unlike one s race, degenerate < degener, not genuine, base < de , from + genus, race: see GENUS] 1. having sunk below a… …   English World dictionary

  • degenerate — [adj] corrupt, deteriorated base, debased, debauched, decadent, decayed, degenerated, degraded, demeaned, depraved, dissolute, effete, failing, fallen, flatitious, immoral, infamous, low, mean, miscreant, nefarious, overripe, perverted,… …   New thesaurus

  • degenerate — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ having lost normal and desirable qualities; showing evidence of moral or physical decline. ► NOUN ▪ a morally degenerate person. ► VERB ▪ deteriorate physically or morally. DERIVATIVES degeneracy noun degenerately adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • Degenerate — De*gen er*ate, v. 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;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • degenerate — de*gen er*ate, n. 1. a person who has declined from a high standard, especially a sexual deviate; usually used disparagingly or opprobriously of persons whose sexual behavior does not conform to the norms of accepted morals. [PJC] 2. a person or… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • degenerate — I noun corrupt person, debased person, debauchee, decadent person, degraded person, depraved person, derelict, disreputable person, immoral person, pervert, rapscallion, recreant, scamp, scapegrace, transgressor, wastrel, worthless person II verb …   Law dictionary

  • degenerate — adj corrupt, infamous, *vicious, villainous, iniquitous, nefarious, flagitious Analogous words: degraded, demeaned (see ABASE): debased, depraved, debauched, perverted (see under DEBASE): dissolute, *abandoned, reprobate, profligate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • degenerate — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de + gener , genus race, kind more at kin Date: 15th century 1. a. having declined or become less specialized (as in… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • degenerate — degenerates, degenerating, degenerated (The verb is pronounced [[t]dɪʤe̱nəreɪt[/t]]. The adjective and noun are pronounced [[t]dɪʤe̱nərət[/t]].) 1) VERB If you say that someone or something degenerates, you mean that they become worse in some way …   English dictionary

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