GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 3 definitions

1.       
   Degenerate (?), 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.
   
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   Faint-hearted and degenerate king. Shak.
   
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   A degenerate and degraded state. Milton.
   
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   Degenerate from their ancient blood. Swift.
   
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   These degenerate days. Pope.
   
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   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.
   
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2.       
   Degenerate (?), 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.
   
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   When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety. Tillotson.
   
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   2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.
   
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3.       
   degenerate (?), 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.
   
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   2. a person or thing that has fallen from a higher to a lower state, or reverted to an earlier type or stage of development or culture. RHUD
   
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