Category:Deteriorate

De*te"ri*o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deteriorated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating.] Etym: [L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]

Defn: 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.

deteriorate De*te"ri*o*rate, v. i.

Defn: To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate. Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates. Goldsmith.