Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-GEN'ER-ATE, v.i. [L. degenero, from degener, grown worse, ignoble, base; de and gener, genus; Fr. degenerer; Sp. degenerar.]

To become worse; to decay in good qualities; to pass from a good to a bad or worse state; to lose or suffer a diminution of valuable qualities, either in the natural or moral world. In the natural world, plants and animals degenerate when they grow to a less size than usual, or lose a part of the valuable qualities which belong to the species. In the moral world, men degenerate when they decline in virtue, or other good qualities. Manners degenerate when they become corrupt. Wit may degenerate into indecency or impiety.

DE-GEN'ER-A-TED, pp.

Grown worse.

DE-GEN'ER-ATE-LY, adv.

In a degenerate or base manner. Milton.

DE-GEN'ER-ATE-NESS, n.

A degenerate state; a state in which the natural good qualities of the species are decayed or lost.

DE-GEN'ER-A-TING, ppr.

Decaying in good qualities.

DE-GEN-ER-A'TION, n.

1. A growing worse, or losing of good qualities; a decline from the virtue and worth of ancestors; a decay of the natural good qualities of the species; a falling from a more excellent state to one of less worth, either in the natural or moral world.
2. The thing degenerated. Brown.

DE-GEN'ER-OUS, a.

1. Degenerated; fallen from a state of excellence, or from the virtue and merit ancestors. Hence,
2. Low; base; mean; unworthy; as, a degenerous passion. Dryden.

DE-GEN'ER-OUS-LY, adv.

In a degenerous manner; basely; meanly.

DE-GLU'TI-NATE, v.t. [L. deglutino; de and glutino, to glue. See Glue.]

To unglue; to loosen or separate substances glued together. Scott.

DE-GLU'TIN-A-TED, pp.

Unglued; loosened or separated; as of substances glued together.

DE-GLU-TI'TION, n. [L. deglutio, to swallow; de and glutio. See Glutton.]

1. The act of swallowing; as, deglutition is difficult.
2. The power of swallowing; as, deglutition is lost.

DEG-RA-DA'TION, n. [Fr. See Degrade.]

1. A reducing in rank; the act of depriving one of a degree of honor, of dignity, or of rank; also, deposition; removal or dismission from office; as, the degradation of a peer, of a knight, or of a bishop, in England.
2. The state of being reduced from an elevated or more honorable station, to one that is low in fact or in estimation; baseness; degeneracy. Deplorable is the degradation of our nature. South.
3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy or value.
4. In painting, a lessening and obscuring of the appearance of distant objects in a landscape, that they may appear as they would do to an eye placed at a distance. Johnson. Encyc.
5. Diminution; reduction of altitude or magnitude. Journ. of Science.

DE-GRADE', v.t. [Fr. degrader; Sp. and Port. degradar; It. degradare; L. de and gradus, a step, a degree. See Grade.]

1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to deprive one of any office or dignity, by which he loses rank in society; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, an archbishop, or a general officer.
2. To reduce in estimation; to lessen the value of; to lower; to sink. Vice degrades a man in the view of others; often in his own view. Drunkenness degrades a man to the level of a beast.
3. To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains. Although the ridge is still there, the ridge itself has been degraded. Journ. of Science.

DE-GRAD'ED, pp.

Reduced in rank; deprived of an office or dignity; lowered; sunk; reduced in estimation or value.

DE-GRADE'MENT, n.

Deprivation of rank or office. Milton.

DE-GRAD'ING, ppr.

1. Reducing in rank; depriving of honors or offices; reducing in value, estimation, or altitude.
2. adj. Dishonoring; disgracing the character; as, degrading obsequiousness. The inordinate love of money and of fame, are base and degrading passions. Wirt.

DE-GRAD'ING-LY, adv.

In a degrading manner, or in a way to depreciate.

DEG-RA-VA'TION, n. [L. degravo; de and gravis, heavy.]

The act of making heavy. [Not in use.]

DE-GREE', n. [Fr. degré; Norm. degret; from L. gradus, Sp. and It. grado, W. rhaz, Syr. ܪܕܐ radah, to go. See Grade and Degrade.]

1. A step; a distinct portion of space of indefinite extent; a space in progression; as, the army gained the hill by degrees; a balloon rises or descends by slow degrees; and figuratively, we advance in knowledge by slow degrees. Men are yet in the first degree of improvement. It should be their aim to attain to the furthest degree, or the highest degree. There are degrees of vice and virtue.
2. A step or portion of progression, in elevation, quality, dignity or rank; as, a man of great degree. Spenser. We speak of men of high degree, or of low degree; of superior or inferior degree. It is supposed there are different degrees or orders of angels. They purchase to themselves a good degree. 1 Tim iii.
3. In genealogy; a certain distance or remove in the line of descent, determining the proximity of blood; as, a relation in the third or fourth degree.
4. Measure; extent. The light is intense to a degree that is intolerable. We suffer an extreme degree of heat or cold.
5. In geometry, a division of a circle, including a three hundred and sixtieth part of its circumference. Hence, a degree of latitude is the 360th part of the earth's surface north or south of the equator, and a degree of longitude, the same part of the surface east or west of any given meridian.
6. In music, an interval of sound, marked by a line on the scale. Rousseau. Busby.
7. In arithmetic, a degree consists of three figures; thus, 270, 360, compose two degrees.
8. A division, space or interval, marked on a mathematical or other instrument; as on a thermometer, or barometer.
9. In colleges and universities, a mark of distinction conferred on students, as a testimony of their proficiency in arts and science; giving them a kind of rank, and entitling them to certain privileges. This is usually evidenced by a diploma. Degrees are conferred pro meritis on the alumni of a college; or they are honorary tokens of respect, conferred on strangers of distinguished reputation. The first degree is that of Bachelor of Arts; the second, that of Master of Arts. Honorary degrees are those of Doctor of Divinity, Doctor of Laws, &c. Physicians also receive the degree of Doctor of Medicine. By degrees, step by step; gradually; by little and little; by moderate advances. Frequent drinking forms by degrees a confirmed habit of intemperance.

DE-GUST', v.t. [L. degusto.]

To taste. [Not used.]

DE-GUST-A'TION, n. [L. degusto.]

A tasting. Bp. Hall.

DE-GUST'ED, pp.

Tasted.

DE-GUST'ING, ppr.

Tasting.

DE-HISCE', v.i. [dehiss'; Infra.]

To gape; in botany, to open, as the capsules of plants. Lindley.

DE-HIS'CENCE, n. [L. dehiscens, dehisco, to gape; de and hisco, id.]

1. A gaping. In botany, the opening of capsules; the season when capsules open. Martyn.
2. The opening of the parts of the capsule in plants, and of the cells of anthers for emitting pollen, &c.