Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Debase"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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
deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime;
to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar
words.
The coin which was adulterated and debased. --Hale.
It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase
religion with such frivolous disputes. --Hooker.
And to debase the sons, exalts the sires. --Pope.
Syn: To abase; degrade. See {Abase}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
debase
v 1: corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; "debauch
the young people with wine and women" [syn: {corrupt}, {pervert},
{demoralize}, {demoralise}, {debauch}, {profane}, {vitiate},
{deprave}, {misdirect}]
2: lower in value by increasing the base-metal content; of
metals [syn: {alloy}]
3: corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or
inferior substance; often by replacing valuable
ingredients with inferior ones; "adulterate liquor" [syn:
{adulterate}, {stretch}, {dilute}]
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