degenerately 
degenerately (de-jen'e-rat-li), ndr. In a de- 
generate or debased manner; unworthily. 
That blindness worse than this, 
That saw not how defftneraMN I served. 
Milton, S. A., 1. 419. 
degenerateness (de-jen'e-rat-nes), . A de- 
generate state; a state in' which natural or 
original qualities are decayed or lost. 
degeneration (de-jeu-e-ra'shon), n. [= F. de- 
generation Sp'. degeneration = Pg. degene- 
raqao = It. degenernzione, < L. as if "degeiiera- 
tio(n-), < degetierare, degenerate.] 1. A loss or 
impairment of the qualities peculiar to the race 
or kind, or to a type ; reduction to a lower type 
in some scale of being. 
The hypothesis of Degeneration will, I believe, be found 
to render most valuable service in pointing out the true 
relationships of animals which are a puzzle and a mys- 
tery when we use only and exclusively the hypothesis of 
Balance, or the hypothesis of Elaboration. 
E. R. Lankester, Degeneration, p. SO. 
of kind without regard to whether the change was to per- 
fect or to degrade ; but it is now used exclusively to de- 
note a change from a higher to a lower kind : that is to 
say, from a more complex to a less complex organisation ; 
it is a process of dissolution, the opposite of that process 
of involution which is pre-essential to evolution. 
Maudsley, Body and Will, p. 240. 
Specifically 2. Loss or impairment of natu- 
ral or proper qualities ; descent to an inferior 
state ; the act of becoming or the state of hav- 
ing become inferior, especially with respect to 
moral qualities. 3. Inphysiol., any process by 
which a tissue or substance becomes replaced 
by some other regarded as less highly organ- 
ized, less complex in composition, of inferior 
physiological rank, or less suited for the per- 
formance of its original functions. Quoin, 
Med. Diet., p. 334. 
Degeneration may be denned as a gradual change of the 
structure in which the organism becomes adapted to less 
varied and less complex conditions of life. 
E. R. Lankester, Degeneration, p. 32. 
4. A degenerate animal or plant; an organism 
of a degraded type. [Bare.] 
Those grains which generally arise among corn, as 
cockle, aracus, eegilops, and other degenerations. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iii. 17. 
Albuminoid degeneration, albuminous degenera- 
tion. Same as lardaceous degeneration. Amyloid de- 
generation. See lardaceous disease, under lardaceous. 
Calcareous degeneration, a morbid disturbance in the 
nutrition of a tissue, resulting in the deposition in it of 
salts of lime. Caseous degeneration, cheesy degen- 
eration. See caseous. Colloid degeneration. Seecof- 
loid. Fatty degeneration, in jiathol., the conversion 
of protein elements into a granular fatty matter. As a 
morbid process, this occurs most frequently iu the mus- 
cles of the heart, in the walls of capillaries, and in the 
urinary tubules ; but it may affect any part of the body. 
Fibroid degeneration, the conversion of a tissue into 
one of fibrous structure, or the substitution of a form of 
connective tissue for some other tissue. Granular de- 
generation. Same as cloudy swelling (which see, under 
cloudy). Hypothesis of degeneration, the hypothesis 
that certain organisms manifesting an inferior grade of 
structural and physiological characteristics are the de- 
generate descendants of higher forms. The theory makes 
the degeneration chiefly the result of disuse of parts : thus, 
the cetaceans are descendants from quadrupeds, aud have 
assumed the fish-like form and lost their hind limbs in 
better accommodating themselves to aquatic life; the 
small-winged aud flightless birds are descendants from 
those with well-developed wings, which, on account of 
residence in places where they were not much disturbed, 
have failed to exercise their wings, and finally lost the use 
of them, and they have aborted ; the intestinal worms with- 
out an intestine are descendants from those with an intes- 
tine, but on account of their environments the skin has 
assumed the function of a nutrient medium and the intes- 
tine has been lost. Lardaceous degeneration. Same 
as lardaceous disease (which see, under lardaceous). Mu- 
COid degeneration, the conversion of cells or intercel- 
lular substance into a semifluid translucent substance 
containing mucin. Parenchymatous degeneration. 
Same as cloudy swelling (which see, under cloudy). Pig- 
mentary degeneration, disturbance of the nutrition of 
a part, with deposition of pigment. Wallerian degen- 
eration, the degeneration of nerve-fibers which have 
been separated, as by section of a nerve, from certain gan- 
glia which exercise a nutritive influence on them. 
degenerationist (de-jen-e-ra'shon-ist), n. and 
o. [< degeneration + -ist,] I. . One who ad- 
vocates the theory of degeneration ; one who 
believes that the general tendency of organ- 
ized beings, especially of man in his mental 
and moral life, is to degenerate ; one who main- 
tains that the natural course of civilization is 
downward rather than upward. 
'With regard to the opinions of older writers on early 
civilization, whether progressionists or degenerationists, 
it must be borne in mind that the evidence at their dis- 
posal fell far short of even the miserably imperfect data 
now accessible. E. B. Tylur, Prim. Culture, I. 48. 
II. a. Pertaining to the theory of degenera- 
tion. 
1508 
The two works of Sir John Lubbock and Mr. Tylor, re- 
spectively, appear to us to agree as to the main issues of 
which they treat, both authors being alike opponents of 
the doctrines which Mr. Tylor has styled (legrneratimiist. 
Academy (London). 
degenerative (de-jen'e-ra-tiv), a. [< degener- 
ate + -ive] Tending to degenerate; of the 
nature of degeneration. 
We were able to note some slight degenerative process in 
the gray substance. Tr. In Alien, and Neural., VIII. 195. 
degeneredt (de-jen'erd), a. [Accom. form of 
degenerate, with (E.) -ecft = (L.) -ate*. Cf. de- 
gender, v.] Degenerate. 
Yet of religion a degener'd seed 
Industrious nature in each heart had sowen. 
Stirling, Doomes-day, The Fifth Hour. 
degenerescence (de-jen-e-res'ens), . Same as 
degeneration. 
degenerizet (de-jen'e-riz), v. i. [As degenerous 
+ -ize] To degenerate; become degenerated. 
Degeneriz'd, decaid, and withered quight. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Vocation. 
degeneroust (de-jen'e-rus), a. [< OF. degene- 
reus, degenereux, witn' added suffix (E. -CMS), < 
L. degener, ignoble, degenerated : see degener- 
ate.] Degenerate. 
I am thy handy-work, thy creature, Lord, 
Stamp'd with thy glorious image, and at first 
Most like to thec, though now a poor accurst, 
Convicted caitiff and degen'rous creature. 
Quarles, Emblems, iii. 10. 
degenerouslyt (de-jen'e-rus-li), adv. In a de- 
generate manner; basely ; meanly. 
How wounding a spectacle is it to see our greatest he- 
roes, like Hercules at the distaff, thus degenerously em- 
ployed ! Decay of Christian Piety. 
degerminator (de-jer'mi-na-tor), n. [NL., < 
L. de- priv. + germen (germin-), germ. Cf. 
F. degermer, extract the germ.] In milling, a 
machine consisting essentially of two corru- 
gated disks of iron, one fixed and the other re- 
volving, between which wheat is passed to split 
the grains and extract the germs. 
degestt, a. [Appar. < L. digestus, pp. of di- 
gerere, arrange, dispose, digest : see digest.] 
Grave; composed. Jamieson. 
Furth held the stout and degest Auletes. 
Gavin Douglas, Virgil, p. 321. 
degestlyt. adv. [< degest + -ly"*.] Gravely; 
composedly ; deliberately. Jamieson. 
Agit Alethes, that na wysdome wantit, 
Bot baith was ripe in counsele and in yeris, 
Unto thir wourdis degestlie maid ansneris. 
Gavin Douglas, Virgil, p. 284. 
degger (deg'er),<. One who degs or sprinkles. 
(lagging-machine (deg'ing-ma-shen"), n. [< 
degging, verbal n. of deg, sprinkle, + machine] 
A sprinkling-machine used in calendering cot- 
ton. 
degiset, v. and n. See deguise. 
deglaze (de-glaz'), v. t. ; pret. and pp. deglazed, 
ppr. deglazing. [< de- priv. + glaze.] To re- 
move the glaze from. 
degloryt (de-glo'ri), v. t. ; pret. and pp. degloried, 
ppr. deglorying. [< de- priv. + glory. Cf . dis- 
glory, n.] To disgrace ; dishonor. 
His head 
That was before with thorns degloried. 
G. Fletcher, Christ's Triumph. 
deghlbet (de-glb'V), v. i. [< L. deglubere, peel 
off, < de, off, -f glubere, peel.] To skin ; peel. 
Now enter his taxing and deglubing face. 
Cleaveland, Poems (1651). (E. D.) 
Deglubitores (de-glo-bi-to'rez), n. pi. [NL., < 
L. deglubere, peel off : see deglube] In Macgil- 
livray's system of classification, the third order 
of birds ; the huskers or conirostral birds, it 
included the finches and buntings, the tauagers, and the 
American blackbirds, and was therefore equivalent to the 
families now recognized as Fringillidce, Tanagridai, aud 
Icteridts. BeeAtiMW. I Not in use.] 
deglutinate (de-glo'ti-nat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
deglutinated, ppr. deglutinating. [< L. degluti- 
iwtus, pp. of deglutinare (> F. deglutiner), un- 
glue, < de- priv. + glutinare, glue, \ gluten, glue : 
see gluten, glue] 1. To unglue ; loosen or sepa- 
rate by or as if by ungluing. 
Sec, see, my Soule (ah, harke how It doth cracke !) 
The Hand of Outrage that deghttinates 
His Vesture, glu'd with gore-blood to His baeke. 
Dames, Holy Roode, p. 16. 
2. To deprive of gluten; extract the gluten 
from. 
deglutition (deg-lo-tish'on), n. [= F. deglu- 
tition = Pg. deglittigSo = It. deglutizione (cf. 
Sp. deglucion), < LL. *deglutitio(n-), < deglutire, 
swallow down, < de, down, + glutire, swallow : 
see glut] The act or power of swallowing. 
degradation 
The tongue serves not only for tasting, but also to assist 
the mastication of the meat and deglutition. 
Ray, Works of Creation, ii. 
Muscles Of deglutition, those muscles which are em- 
ployed in the act of swallowing ; the muscles of the tongue, 
palate, and pharynx. 
deglutitious (deg-lo-tish'us), . Pertaining to 
deglutition. [Rare.] 
deglutitive (de-glo'ti-tiv), a. [As deglutit-iou 
+ -ive] Pertaining to deglutition ; concerned 
in the act of swallowing ; deglutitious ; deglu- 
titory. 
[Asdeglutit-ion 
degllititory (de-glo'ti-to-ri), a. [A 
+ -ory] Serving for deglutition. 
deglycerin (de-glis'e-rin), v. t. [< de- priv. + 
glycerin] To free from glycerin. 
The French process, so largely adopted in America, for 
deglycerining neutral fats before they are saponified. 
W. L. Carpenter, Soap and Candles, p. 151. 
degorder (deg'or-der), n. [Irreg. < deg(ree) + 
order] The pair of numbers signifying the 
degree and order of any mathematical form. 
degote (de-got'), . [Buss, degotfi, birch-tar.] 
Oil of birch, obtained from the white birch by a 
process of dry distillation. It is used to give to Rus- 
sia leather its peculiar odor, and to perfume imitations of 
it. Also called elachert. Less correctly written degut, de- 
degoutedt, a. [So. degoutit, < OF. degoute, de- 
gute, spotted (cf. degouter, degoutter, drop, drop 
down), < L. de- + gtittatus, spotted, < gutta, a 
drop, spot: see guttate] Spotted. 
A mantill . . . 
Degoutit with the self in spottis blake. 
King's Qnair, v. 10. 
degradation (deg-ra-da'shon), n. [= F. degra- 
dation = Pr. desgradatio = Sp. degradacion = Pg. 
degradagao = It. degradazione = D. degradatie 
= G. Dan. Sw. degradation, < ML. degrada- 
tio(n-), a reducing in rank, < degradare : see de- 
grade] 1. A reducing in rank; the act of de- 
priving one of a degree of honor, of dignity, or 
of rank ; deposition, removal, or dismissal from 
rank or office: as, the degradation of a general. 
Specifically (a) In eccles. law, the act of depriving an 
ecclesiastic of his orders or privileges, or of both. The 
Roman Catholic Church recognizes two methods of degra- 
dation. By the simple or verbal degradation the accused 
is deprived of all his orders and benefices. By the solemn 
or real degradation he is with great ceremony stripped of 
his ecclesiastical vestments and ornaments and publicly 
reproached by the bishop, deprived of his orders and bene- 
fices as in simple degradation, and of his various privileges. 
He remains, however, a priest, and can iu special emergen- 
cies consecrate and administer the sacraments. Degrada- 
tion is now resorted to only in extreme cases. In the early 
church the culprit was degraded by removal from a higher 
to a lower grade of office. See deprivation, 4. (6) The act 
of depriving a pel-son of his degree in a university, (c) In 
early American colleges, when the students' names were 
arranged according to the social rank of the parents, the 
placing of a name, as a punishment, lower than it would 
otherwise be placed. B. II. Hall, (d) In the University 
of Cambridge, England, the postponement of a student's 
candidacy for a degree, etc., for one year, owing to illness 
or other unavoidable cause, (e) In the University of Ox- 
ford, the solemn canceling in convocation of the degree 
held by a member of the university. 
2. The state of being reduced from a higher to 
a lower grade of power, character, or estima- 
tion; degeneracy; debasement. 
Deplorable is the degradation of our nature. South. 
The descent of Spain, once the first among monarchies, 
to the lower depths of degradation, the elevation of Hol- 
land, in spite of many natural disadvantages, to a position 
such as no commonwealth has ever reached, teach the 
same lesson [the tendency of Papal domination]. 
Macaulay. 
3. The act of sinking to a lower level in space. 
[Bare.] 
Lycius has sunk on one knee and with closed eyes is 
about to slip prone. Lamia leans over and supports his 
head from further degradation, while her left hand com- 
forts his shoulder. The Century, XXXI. 249. 
4. Diminution or reduction, as of strength, 
value, altitude, or magnitude. 5. In painting, 
a lessening and obscuring of distant objects in 
a landscape, to give the effect of distance. 
6. In geol., the reduction or wearing down of 
higher lands, rocks, strata, etc., by the action 
of water or other causes. 
7. In biol., abortive structural development ; 
retrograde metamorphosis, such as that wit- 
nessed in many parasites as a result of their 
parasitism. 
The degradation of the species man is observed in some 
of its varieties. Dana. 
The course of development may, in particular cases, 
lead to numerous retrogressions, so that we may find the 
adult animal to be of lower organization than the larva. 
This phenomenon, which is known as retrogressive meta- 
morphosis, corresponds to the demands of the selection 
