[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

degrade \degrade"\, v. t. imp.  p. p. degraded; p. pr. 
   vb. n. degrading. f. d'egrader, ll. degradare, fr. l.
   de- + gradus step, degree. see grade, and cf. degree.
   1. to reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to
      lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip
      of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general
      officer.
      1913 webster

            prynne was sentenced by the star chamber court to be
            degraded from the bar.                --palfrey.
      1913 webster

   2. to reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to
      lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or
      intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or
      contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man.
      1913 webster

            o miserable mankind, to what fall
            degraded, to what wretched state reserved --milton.
      1913 webster

            yet time ennobles or degrades each line. --pope.
      1913 webster

            her pride . . . struggled hard against this
            degrading passion.                    --macaulay.
      1913 webster

   3. geol. to reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and
      mountains; to wear down.

   syn: to abase; demean; lower; reduce. see abase.
        1913 webster
see also:
degraded degrading grade degree abase 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

degraded \degrad"ed\, a.
   1. reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased;
      sunken; low; base.
      1913 webster

            the netherlands . . . were reduced practically to a
            very degraded condition.              --motley.
      1913 webster

   2. biol. having the typical characters or organs in a
      partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts.
      1913 webster

            some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons.
                                                  --dana.
      1913 webster

   3. cf. f. degr'e step. her. having steps; -- said of a
      cross each of whose extremities finishes in steps growing
      larger as they leave the center; -- termed also on
      degrees.
      1913 webster

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

degraded
     adj 1: unrestrained by convention or morality; "congreve draws a
            debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably
            dissipated and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast
            women" syn: debauched, degenerate, dissipated,
            dissolute, libertine, profligate, riotous, fast
     2: lowered in value; "the dollar is low"; "a debased currency"
        syn: debased, devalued
see also:
debauched degenerate dissipated dissolute libertine profligate 
riotous fast debased devalued 

Degraded >> D Words
Degraded, definition of term: Degraded
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