[de.te.ri.o.rate] vb -rat.ed ; -rat.ing [LL deterioratus, pp. of deteriorare, fr. L deterior worse, fr. de- + -ter (suffix as in L uter which of two) + -ior (compar. suffix)--more at whether, -er] vt (1572) 1: to make inferior in quality or value: impair
2: disintegrate ~ vi: to become impaired in quality, functioning, or condition: degenerate "allowed a tradition of academic excellence to ~" "his health deteriorated" -- de.te.ri.o.ra.tive adj