English
degradation
Degradation comes from French dégradation ‘removal from office or a function’, and goes back to Latin dēgradō.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēgradō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēgradātiōas dēgradātiōnem
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdégradation‘removal from office or a function’
- Englishearliest quotation 1837degradation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēgradō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēgradātiōas dēgradātiōnem
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdégradation‘removal from office or a function’
- Englishearliest quotation 1837degradation
Earliest quotation: 1837, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, Different Views of Life: “Money is the great breaker-up of love and friendship;…”
Every English word from Latin dēgradō
Today it means
noun The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin dēgradō / degradation