v.
  - cause to suffer a severe loss of dignity or respect; demean. 
▸lower the character or quality of.
 ▸archaic reduce to a lower rank, especially as a punishment.
 - cause to break down or deteriorate chemically. 
▸Physics  reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form.
 
 
  Derivative
  
    - degradability n.
  - degradable adj.
  - degradative adj.
  - degrader n.
 
   
  Etymology
  ME: from OFr. degrader, from eccles. L. degradare, from de- ‘down’ + L. gradus ‘grade’.