v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deterred p. pr. & vb. n. Deterring. ] [ L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror. ] To prevent by fear; hence, to hinder or prevent from action by fear of consequences, or difficulty, risk, etc. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Potent enemies tempt and deter us from our duty. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

My own face deters me from my glass. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deterged p. pr. & vb. n. Deterging. ] [ L. detergere, detersum; de + tergere to rub or wipe off: cf. F. déterger. ] To cleanse; to purge away, as foul or offending matter from the body, or from an ulcer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A cleansing quality or power. De Foe. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. detergens, -entis, p. pr. of detergere: cf. F. détergent. ] Cleansing; purging. -- n. A substance which cleanses the skin, as water or soap; a medicine to cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deteriorated p. pr. & vb. n. Deteriorating ] [ L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorare to deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down, away. ] To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair; as, to deteriorate the mind. Whately. [ 1913 Webster ]

The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated. Southey. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate. [ 1913 Webster ]

Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. going from better to worse.
Syn. -- declining, failing, regressing, retrograde, retrogressive. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ LL. deterioratio: cf. F. détérioration. ] The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown worse. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. deterior worse. See Deteriorate. ] Worse state or quality; inferiority. “The deteriority of the diet.” [ R. ] Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Deter. ] The act of deterring; also, that which deters. Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]