Debase — De*base , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Debased}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Debasing}.] [Pref. de + base. See {Base}, a., and cf. {Abase}.] To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
debase — 1 Debase, vitiate, deprave, corrupt, debauch, pervert mean to cause a person or thing to become impaired and lowered in quality or character and share certain distinctions in implications and connotations with the adjectives (usually participial… … New Dictionary of Synonyms
debase — [v1] degrade, shame abase, bemean, cast down, cheapen, corrupt, cripple, debauch, debilitate, demean, demoralize, deprave, devaluate, devalue, disable, disgrace, dishonor, drag down*, dump on*, enfeeble, fluff off*, humble, humiliate, lower, put… … New thesaurus
debase — [dē bās′, dibās′] vt. debased, debasing [ DE + base, aphetic < ABASE] to make lower in value, quality, character, dignity, etc.; cheapen SYN. DEGRADE debasement n. debaser n. SYN. DEBASE implies generally a lowering in quality, value, dignity … English World dictionary
debase — I verb abase, adulterate, bastardize, befoul, cheapen, coarsen, contaminate, corrumpere, corrupt, debauch, defile, degrade, dehumanize, demoralize, deprave, depreciate, depress, desecrate, deteriorate, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, downgrade,… … Law dictionary
debase — (v.) 1560s, from DE (Cf. de ) down + BASE (Cf. base) (adj.) low, on analogy of abase (or, alternatively, from obsolete verb base to abuse ) … Etymology dictionary
debase — ► VERB ▪ lower the quality, value, or character of. DERIVATIVES debasement noun … English terms dictionary
debase — UK [dɪˈbeɪs] / US verb [transitive] Word forms debase : present tense I/you/we/they debase he/she/it debases present participle debasing past tense debased past participle debased formal to reduce the value, quality, or status of something •… … English dictionary
debase — de|base [dıˈbeıs] v [T] formal to make someone or something lose its value or people s respect ▪ The medical profession has been debased by these revelations. debase yourself ▪ actors who debased themselves by participating in the show debase a… … Dictionary of contemporary English
debase — verb (T) 1 informal to reduce the quality or value of something: a once rational society debased by war and corruption 2 debase yourself to do something that makes other people have less respect for you: women forced to debase themselves by… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
