— downgrader , n.
/down"grayd'/ , n., adj., adv., v., downgraded, downgrading .
n.
1. a downward slope, esp. of a road.
2. on the downgrade , in a decline toward an inferior state or position: His career has been on the downgrade.
adj. , adv.
3. downhill.
v.t.
4. to assign to a lower status with a smaller salary.
5. to minimize the importance of; denigrate: She tried to downgrade the findings of the investigation.
6. to assign a lower security classification to (information, a document, etc.).
[ 1855-60, Amer.; DOWN 1 + GRADE ]