deteriorate

views updated May 17 2018

de·te·ri·o·rate / diˈti(ə)rēəˌrāt/ • v. [intr.] become progressively worse: relations between the countries had deteriorated sharply | [as adj.] (deteriorating) deteriorating economic conditions. DERIVATIVES: de·te·ri·o·ra·tion / -ˌti(ə)rēəˈrāshən/ n.de·te·ri·o·ra·tive / -ˌrātiv/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

deteriorate

views updated May 29 2018

deteriorate make worse XVI; grow worse XVIII. f. pp. stem of late L. dēteriōrāre, f. dēterior worse, compar. of *dēter-, f. dē down (see DE-) + compar. suffix; see -ATE 3.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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