De-grād'ed, p. a.

p. a. 1. Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; sunken; low; base. The Netherlands . . . were reduced practically to a very degraded condition. Motley. 2. (Nat. Hist.) Presenting the typical characters in a partially developed or imperfect condition. Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons. Dana. 3. (Her.) Having steps;—said of a cross divided into steps at each end, diminishing as they ascend toward the center.