[de.grade] vb [ME, fr. OF degrader, fr. LL degradare, fr. L de- + gradus step, grade--more at grade] vt (14c) 1 a: to lower in grade, rank, or status: demote b: to strip of rank or honors c: to lower to an inferior or less effective level d: to scale down in desirability or salability
2. a: to bring to low esteem or into disrepute b: to drag down in moral or intellectual character: corrupt
3: to impair in respect to some physical property
4: to wear down by erosion
5: to reduce the complexity of (a chemical compound): decompose ~ vi 1: to pass from a higher grade or class to a lower
2. of a chemical compound: to become reduced in complexity -- de.grad.er n -- de.grad.ing.ly adv