— deteriorative , adj.
/di tear"ee euh rayt'/ , v.t., v.i., deteriorated, deteriorating .
1. to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.
2. to disintegrate or wear away.
[ 1565-75; deterioratus made worse (ptp. of deteriorare ), equiv. to L deterior worse ( de from + -ter- formative in adjs. of spatial orientation (cf. EXTERIOR, INTERIOR) + -ior comp. suffix) + -atus -ATE 1 ]
Syn. 1. degenerate, decline, worsen.