Meaning

• To lower in value or social position.

  "Fred degrades himself by his behaviour."

• To reduce in quality or purity.

  "The DNA sample has degraded."

• To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

Meaning

• Feeling or having undergone degradation; deprived of dignity or self-respect.

• Having the typical characters or organs in a partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts.

• Having steps; said of a cross whose extremities end in steps growing larger as they leave the centre; on degrees.