De‐gen′er‐a″tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dégénération.] 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 organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type.
4. The thing degenerated.
Cockle, aracus,... and other degenerations. Sir T. Browne.
Amyloid degeneration, Caseous degeneration, etc. See under Amyloid, Caseous, etc.