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Webster’s Dictionary (1828)



11 words match “DETERIORATE”

DETERIORATE v. 2 definitions
To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. Whately. The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated. Southey.
ALLAY v.
To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to deteriorate. [Archaic] Fuller.
DEBASE v.
a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words. The coin which was adulterated and debased. Hale. It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase r…
DEGENERATE a. 2 definitions
han 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 vin…
DISIMPROVE v.
To grow worse; to deteriorate.
EMBASE v.
To bring down or lower, as in position, value, etc.; to debase; to degrade; to deteriorate. [Obs.] Embased the valleys, and embossed the hills. Sylvester. Alloy in coin of gold . . . may make the metal work the better, but it embaseth it. Bacon. Such pitiful embellishments of speech as serve for nothing but to embase d…
FAIL v.
To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
FALL v.
e; to abandon; as, his customers fell off. (f) To depreciate; to change for the worse; to deteriorate; to become less valuable, abundant, or interesting; as, a falling off in the wheat crop; the magazine or the review falls off. "O Hamlet, what a falling off was there!" Shak. (g) (Naut.) To deviate or trend to the leew…
IMPAIR v. 2 definitions
To make worse; to diminish in quantity, value, excellence, or strength; to deteriorate; as, to impair health, character, the mind, value. Time sensibly all things impairs. Roscommon. In years he seemed, but not impaired by years. Pope.
WORSEN v.
To make worse; to deteriorate; to impair. It is apparent that, in the particular point of which we have been conversing, their condition is greatly worsened. Southey.
WORST v.
To grow worse; to deteriorate. [R.] "Every face . . . worsting." Jane Austen.