%gradation%

n. [ LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F. dégradation. See Degrade. ] 1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop. [ 1913 Webster ]

He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed. Clarendon. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement. [ 1913 Webster ]

The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

Deplorable is the degradation of our nature. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state. Blair. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration. [ 1913 Webster ]

The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced. I. Taylor (The Alphabet). [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Biol.) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration. [ 1913 Webster ]

The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole. [ 1913 Webster ]

Degradation of energy, or
Dissipation of energy (Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.

Syn. -- Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline. [ 1913 Webster ]