Reduced in quality, condition, or status. Something that has deteriorated or been broken down from its original state.
From Latin 'degradare' meaning 'to reduce in rank', from 'de-' (down) plus 'gradus' (step). Originally referred to removing someone from office, later expanded to general deterioration.
In military contexts, 'degradation' meant the ceremonial stripping of rank and insignia - a public humiliation. Today's environmental meaning shows how the word evolved from personal shame to describing damage to entire ecosystems.
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