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debase

de·base

UK/dɪˈbeɪs/ US/dʌˈbeɪs/ uncommon archaic

verb

1.
2.

lower in value by increasing the base-metal content

Synonyms
3.

corrupt, debase, or make impure by adding a foreign or inferior substance; often by replacing valuable ingredients with inferior ones

  • “adulterate liquor”
Synonyms

Origin

From de- + base, from Old French bas, from Latin bassus. Cognate with Spanish debajo (“under, beneath, below”). Compare abase.

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.