DETERIORATE

deteriorate. Deteriorate, v. to make or grow worse

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De‐te″ri‐o‐rate (dē̍‐tē″rĭ‐ō̍‐rāt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deteriorated (–rā′tĕd); p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating (–rā′tĭng).] [[L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorare to deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away.]] To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. Whately. The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated. Southey.