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Webster 1913 Edition


Debase

De-base′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Debased
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Debasing
.]
[Pref.
de-
+
base
. See
Base
,
Adj.
, and cf.
Abase
.]
To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase;
as, to
debase
the character by crime; to
debase
the mind by frivolity; to
debase
style by vulgar words.
The coin which was adulterated and
debased
.
Hale.
It is a kind of taking God’s name in vain to
debase
religion with such frivolous disputes.
Hooker.
Syn. – To abase; degrade. See
Abase
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Debase

DEBA'SE

, v.t.

Definition 2024


debase

debase

English

Verb

debase (third-person singular simple present debases, present participle debasing, simple past and past participle debased)

  1. (transitive) To lower in character, quality, or value; to degrade.
  2. (transitive, archaic) To lower in position or rank.[1]
  3. (transitive) To lower the value of (a currency) by reducing the amount of valuable metal in the coins.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., 1989.

Anagrams