From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Debase \De*base"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Debased}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Debasing}.] [Pref. de- + base. See {Base}, a., 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.
[1913 Webster]
The coin which was adulterated and debased. --Hale.
[1913 Webster]
It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase
religion with such frivolous disputes. --Hooker.
[1913 Webster]
And to debase the sons, exalts the sires. --Pope.
Syn: To abase; degrade. See {Abase}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
debase
v 1: corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality; "debauch
the young people with wine and women"; "Socrates was
accused of corrupting young men"; "Do school counselors
subvert young children?"; "corrupt the morals" [syn:
{corrupt}, {pervert}, {subvert}, {demoralize},
{demoralise}, {debauch}, {debase}, {profane}, {vitiate},
{deprave}, {misdirect}]
2: lower in value by increasing the base-metal content [syn:
{debase}, {alloy}]
3: corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or
inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients
with inferior ones; "adulterate liquor" [syn: {load},
{adulterate}, {stretch}, {dilute}, {debase}]
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