Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Degenerate \De*gen"er*ate\, 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.

            When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into
            insolence and impiety.                --Tillotson.

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

Degenerate \De*gen"er*ate\, 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.

         Faint-hearted and degenerate king.       --Shak.

         A degenerate and degraded state.         --Milton.

         Degenerate from their ancient blood.     --Swift.

         These degenerate days.                   --Pope.

         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.

Source : WordNet®

degenerate
     adj : unrestrained by convention or morality; "Congreve draws a
           debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated
           and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women" [syn: {debauched},
            {degraded}, {dissipated}, {dissolute}, {libertine}, {profligate},
            {riotous}, {fast}]
     n : a person whose behavior deviates from what is acceptable
         especially in sexual behavior [syn: {pervert}, {deviant},
          {deviate}]
     v : grow worse; "Her condition deteriorated"; "Conditions in the
         slums degenerated"; "The discussion devolved into a
         shouting match" [syn: {devolve}, {deteriorate}, {drop}]
         [ant: {recuperate}]