degenerate
Cross references:
1. vicious
1. de.gen.er.ate \-'jen-(*-)r*t\ aj [ME degenerat, fr. L degeneratus, pp.
of degenerare to degene]rate, fr. de- + gener-, genus race, kind - more at
KIN 1: having degenerated : 1a1: having declined markedly from one's
ancestors, predecessors, or forme r self 1a2: RETROGRADE 1b: having
deteriorated from a former level 1c: DEGRADED 1d: DEBASED 2: marked by
lowered standards - de.gen.er.ate.ly av
2. degenerate n : one that is degenerate : as : one degraded from the
normal moral standard : one debased by a psychopathic tendency : a sexual
pervert : one showing signs of reversion to an earlier culture stage
3. de.gen.er.ate \di-'jen-*-.ra-t\ vi 1: to pass from a higher to a lower
type or condition : DETERIORATEM {~ from the ancestral stock} 2: to undergo
progressive deterioration : become of a lower biological t ype 3: to sink
into a low intellectual or moral state 4: to decline in quality : to
cause to degenerate