de·gen·er·ate adjective \di-ˈjen-rət, -ˈje-nə-, dē-\: having low moral standards : not honest, proper, or good
Full Definition of DEGENERATE
1
a: having declined or become less specialized (as in nature, character, structure, or function) from an ancestral or former state
b: having sunk to a condition below that which is normal to a type; especially: having sunk to a lower and usually corrupt and vicious state
c: degraded
2: being mathematically simpler (as by having a factor or constant equal to zero) than the typical case degenerate hyperbola>
3: characterized by atoms stripped of their electrons and by very great density <degenerate matter>; also: consisting of degenerate matter <a degenerate star>
4: having two or more states or subdivisions <degenerate energy level>
5: having more than one codon representing an amino acid; also: being such a codon
— de·gen·er·ate·lyadverb
— de·gen·er·ate·nessnoun
Examples of DEGENERATE
- He criticizes what he believes is a degenerate society.
- <a degenerate society in which people had no sense of being citizens, only consumers>
Origin of DEGENERATE
Middle English degenerat, from Latin degeneratus, past participle of degenerare to degenerate, from de- + gener-, genus race, kind — more at kin
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to DEGENERATE
Definition source: http://www.merriam-webster.com
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