— debasedness /di bay"sid nis, -bayst"-/ , n. — debasement , n. — debaser , n. — debasingly , adv.
/di bays"/ , v.t., debased, debasing .
1. to reduce in quality or value; adulterate: They debased the value of the dollar.
2. to lower in rank, dignity, or significance: He wouldn't debase himself by doing manual labor.
[ 1555-65; DE- + BASE 2 ; cf. ABASE ]
Syn. 1. lower, vitiate, corrupt; contaminate, pollute, defile. 2. degrade, abase, demean, reduce.