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’.