a. [ L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship. ] Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low. [ 1913 Webster ]

Faint-hearted and degenerate king. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

A degenerate and degraded state. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Degenerate from their ancient blood. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

These degenerate days. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me? Jer. ii. 21. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Degenerating. ] 1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate. [ 1913 Webster ]

When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. a person who has declined from a high standard, especially a sexual deviate; -- usually used disparagingly or opprobriously of persons whose sexual behavior does not conform to the norms of accepted morals. [ PJC ]

2. a person or thing that has fallen from a higher to a lower state, or reverted to an earlier type or stage of development or culture. RHUD [ PJC ]

adv. In a degenerate manner; unworthily. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Degeneracy. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Generated p. pr. & vb. n. Generating. ] [ L. generatus, p. p. of generare to generate, fr. genus. See Genus, Gender. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To beget; to procreate; to propagate; to produce (a being similar to the parent); to engender; as, every animal generates its own species. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to be; to bring into life. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To originate, especially by a vital or chemical process; to produce; to cause. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whatever generates a quantity of good chyle must likewise generate milk. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) To trace out, as a line, figure, or solid, by the motion of a point or a magnitude of inferior order. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Ingenerat p. pr. & vb. n. Ingenerating ] To generate or produce within; to beget; to engender; to occasion; to cause. Mede. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those noble habits are ingenerated in the soul. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. ingeneratus, p. p. of ingenerare. See engender ] Generated within; inborn; innate; as, ingenerate powers of body. W. Wotton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those virtues were rather feigned and affected . . . than true qualities ingenerate in his judgment. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ L. progeneratus, p. p. of progenerare to beget; pro forth, forward + generare to generate. ] To beget; to generate; to produce; to procreate; as, to progenerate a race. [ R. ] Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. regeneratus, p. p. of regenerare to regenerate; pref. re- re- + generare to beget. See Generate. ] 1. Reproduced. [ 1913 Webster ]

The earthly author of my blood,
Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate,
Doth with a twofold vigor lift me up. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) Born anew; become Christian; renovated in heart; changed from a natural to a spiritual state. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. 1. To generate or produce anew; to reproduce; to give new life, strength, or vigor to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Through all the soil a genial fferment spreads.
Regenerates the plauts, and new adorns the meads. Blackmore. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Theol.) To cause to be spiritually born anew; to cause to become a Christian; to convert from sin to holiness; to implant holy affections in the heart of. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Hence, to make a radical change for the better in the character or condition of; as, to regenerate society. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality or state of being rgenerate. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Not regenerated; not renewed in heart; remaining or being at enmity with God. [ 1913 Webster ]