v. i. (Biol.) To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure;
v. t.
Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar. Palfrey. [ 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 ]
a.
The Netherlands . . . were reduced practically to a very degraded condition. Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]
Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons. Dana. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. Deprivation of rank or office; degradation. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]