De*gen`er*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. d'eg'en'eration.]
1.
The act or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration.
Our degeneration and apostasy.
Bates.
2. Physiol.
That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure; as, fatty degeneration of the liver.
3. Biol.
A gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular or organs; hereditary degradation of type.
4.
The thing degenerated.
[R.]
Cockle, aracus, . . . and other degenerations.
Sir T. Browne.
Amyloid degeneration, Caseous degeneration, etc. See under Amyloid, Caseous, etc.
© Webster 1913.