De*te"ri*o*rate
(dē*tē"rĭ*?*rāt), v. i.
To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to
degenerate.
Under such conditions, the mind rapidly
deteriorates.
Goldsmith.De*te"ri*o*rate
(dē*tē"rĭ*?*rāt), v. t.
[imp. & p. p. Deteriorated (-
rā`tĕd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Deteriorating (-rā`tĭng).] [L.
deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorare to deteriorate, fr.
deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]
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.