Deteriorate
[dɪ'tɪərɪəreɪt] or [dɪ'tɪrɪəret]
Definition
(verb.) become worse or disintegrate; 'His mind deteriorated'.
Checked by Hugo--From WordNet
Definition
(v. t.) To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind.
(v. i.) To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.
Typist: Sam
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. a. impair, make worse.
v. n. Degenerate, grow worse.
Typist: Steven
Synonyms and Antonyms
[See AMELIORATE]
Checked by Alden
Definition
v.t. to make worse.—v.i. to grow worse.—p.adj. Detē′riorated spoilt: of inferior quality.—n. Deteriorā′tion the act of making worse: the state of growing worse.—adj. Detē′riorative.—n. Deterior′ity (obs.) worse state.
Typed by Frank
Examples
- And if care was not taken in the breeding, your dogs and birds would greatly deteriorate? Plato. The Republic.
- Does it occur to you that the boys of Merry England will begin to deteriorate in an educational light, if this lasts long? Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Deteriorated, that is to say, in the good qualities of horses, not of dogs? Plato. The Republic.
- In the first place, history shows that wherever polygamy has been largely allowed the race has deteriorated. Plato. The Republic.
- And dogs are deteriorated in the good qualities of dogs, and not of horses? Plato. The Republic.
- When horses are injured, are they improved or deteriorated? Plato. The Republic.
- And will not men who are injured be deteriorated in that which is the proper virtue of man? Plato. The Republic.
- How far she is really reformed or deteriorated in her secret self, is another question. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- The imprisoned air, the imprisoned light, the imprisoned damps, the imprisoned men, were all deteriorated by confinement. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
- Yes; he greatly deteriorates. Plato. The Republic.
Inputed by George