degenerate

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 nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state b. having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state c. degraded 2 2. being mathematically simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case <
a degenerate hyperbola
> 3. characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density <
degenerate matter
>; also consisting of degenerate matter <
a degenerate star
> 4. having two or more states or subdivisions <
degenerate energy level
> 5. having more than one codon representing an amino acid; also being such a codon Synonyms: see vicious • degenerately adverb • degenerateness noun II. verb Date: 1545 intransitive verb 1. to pass from a higher to a lower type or condition ; deteriorate 2. to sink into a low intellectual or moral state 3. to decline in quality <
the poetry gradually degenerates into jingles
> 4. to decline from a condition or from the standards of a species, race, or breed 5. to evolve or develop into a less autonomous or less functionally active form <
degenerated into dependent parasites
> transitive verb to cause to degenerate III. noun Date: 1555 one that is degenerate: as a. one degraded from the normal moral standard b. a sexual pervert c. one showing signs of reversion to an earlier culture stage

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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 — 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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