Nearby Words

degradative

[deg-ruh-dey-shuhn] Origin

deg·ra·da·tion

[deg-ruh-dey-shuhn]
noun
1.
the act of degrading.
2.
the state of being degraded.
3.
Physical Geography. the wearing down of the land by the erosive action of water, wind, or ice.
4.
Chemistry. the breakdown of an organic compound.

Origin:
1525–35; < Late Latin dēgradātiōn- (stem of dēgradātiō), equivalent to dēgradāt(us) (past participle of dēgradāre to degrade) + -iōn- -ion

deg·ra·da·tion·al, adjective
deg·ra·da·tive, adjective
an·ti·deg·ra·da·tion, adjective
non·deg·ra·da·tion, noun
self-deg·ra·da·tion, noun


2. humiliation, disgrace, dishonor, debasement.

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Degradative is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc.
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

degradation
1530s, from Fr. dégradation (14c.), from M.L. degradationem, noun of action from degradare (see degrade).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

degradation deg·ra·da·tion (děg'rə-dā'shən)
n.
Progressive decomposition of a chemical compound into a less complex compound.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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