¦ verb
1. cause to suffer a severe loss of dignity or respect; demean.
lower the character or quality of.
archaic reduce to a lower rank, especially as a punishment.
2. cause to break down or deteriorate chemically.
Physics reduce (energy) to a less readily convertible form.
Derivatives
degradability noun
degradable adjective
degradative adjective
degrader noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. degrader, from eccles. L. degradare, from de- 'down' + L. gradus 'grade'.