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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Degenerate \De*gen"er*ate\, a. [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.]
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.
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Faint-hearted and degenerate king. --Shak.
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A degenerate and degraded state. --Milton.
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Degenerate from their ancient blood. --Swift.
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These degenerate days. --Pope.
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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.
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Degenerate \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.
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When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into
insolence and impiety. --Tillotson.
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2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy
structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.
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degenerate \de*gen"er*ate\, n.
1. a person who has declined from a high standard, especially
a sexual deviate; -- usually used disparagingly or
opprobriously of persons whose sexual behavior does not
conform to the norms of accepted morals.
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2. a person or thing that has fallen from a higher to a lower
state, or reverted to an earlier type or stage of
development or culture. --RHUD
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