de·gen·er·ate /dɪˈʤɛnəˌret, di-/
(a.)墮落的(vi.)退化,墮落(vt.)使變質,使退化
de·gen·er·ate /dɪˈʤɛn(ə)rət/ 形容詞
退化,變質,敗落者,精神變質者
De·gen·er·ate a. 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.
De·gen·er·ate v. i. [imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Degenerating.]
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. Biol. To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.
◄ ►
degenerate
adj : unrestrained by convention or morality; "Congreve draws a
debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated
and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women" [syn: debauched,
degraded, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, profligate,
riotous, fast]
n : a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable
especially in sexual behavior [syn: pervert, deviant,
deviate]
v : grow worse; "Her condition deteriorated"; "Conditions in the
slums degenerated"; "The discussion devolved into a
shouting match" [syn: devolve, deteriorate, drop]
[ant: recuperate]