Hypertext Webster Gateway: "degenerate"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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; to
deteriorate.
When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into
insolence and impiety. --Tillotson.
2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy
structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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 one's former state;
having declined in worth; having lost in goodness;
deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low.
Faint-hearted and degenerate king. --Shak.
A degenerate and degraded state. --Milton.
Degenerate from their ancient blood. --Swift.
These degenerate days. --Pope.
I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art
thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine
unto me? --Jer. ii. 21.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
degenerate
adj : unrestrained by convention or morality; "Congreve draws a
debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated
and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women" [syn: {debauched},
{degraded}, {dissipated}, {dissolute}, {libertine}, {profligate},
{riotous}, {fast}]
n : a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable
especially in sexual behavior [syn: {pervert}, {deviant},
{deviate}]
v 1: become worse or disintegrate; "His mind deteriorated" [syn:
{deteriorate}]
2: grow worse; "Her condition deteriorated" [syn: {deteriorate},
{drop}] [ant: {recuperate}]
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