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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Degenerate

De-gēn'er-āte, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [imp. & p. p. DEGENERATED; p. pr. & vb. n. DEGENERATING.] [Lat. degenerare, degeneratum, from degener, that departs from its race or kind, degenerate, from de and genus, generis, birth, race; It. degenerare, Sp. degenerar, Fr. dégénérer.] To be or grow worse than one's kind; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to be degraded; to deteriorate.

When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety. Tillotson.

De-gĕn'er-ate, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare. See supra.] Having become worse than one's kind; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; mean; base; low. “Faint-hearted and degenerate king.” Shak. “A degenerate and degraded state.” Milton. “Degenerate from their ancient blood.” Swift.