der•o•gate
Pronunciation: (v.der'u-gāt"adj.der'u-git, -gāt"), [key]
— v., adj. -gat•ed, -gat•ing,
—v.i.
- to detract, as from authority, estimation, etc. (usually fol. by from).
- to stray in character or conduct; degenerate (usually fol. by from).
—v.t.
- to disparage or belittle.
- to take away (a part) so as to impair the whole.
—adj.
- debased.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.