deteriorate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   grow worse

   My cousin's condition deteriorated.

2. 2
   verb

   become worse or disintegrate

   Their mind deteriorated with old age.

3. 3
   verb

   To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair.

   to deteriorate the mind

4. 4
   verb

   To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.

   During this fine run through Fife the weather had deteriorated rapidly, and as we passed Wormit and came onto the Tay Bridge heavy rain clouds were piled over the sea.

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin dēteriorātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin dēteriorō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), further from Latin dēterior (“worse”). Cognate with French détériorer.