online medical dictionary | definition of degenerate

Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low. "Faint-hearted and degenerate king." (Shak) "A degenerate and degraded state." (Milton) "Degenerate from their ancient blood." (Swift) "These degenerate days." (Pope) "I had planted thee a noble vine . ., how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?" (Jer. Ii. 21)

Origin: L. Degeneratus, p. P. Of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. Degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship.

1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate. "When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety." (Tillotson)

2. <biology> To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.

Origin: Degenerated; Degenerating.

(01 Mar 1998)