degeneracy
    n 1: the state of being degenerate in mental or moral qualities
         [syn: degeneracy, degeneration, decadence,
         decadency]
    2: moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles;
       "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral
       degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its
       brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity"; "Rome had fallen
       into moral putrefaction" [syn: corruption, degeneracy,
       depravation, depravity, putrefaction]

Degeneracy \De*gen"er*a*cy\, n. [From Degenerate, a.]
   1. The act of becoming degenerate; a growing worse.
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            Willful degeneracy from goodness.     --Tillotson.
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   2. The state of having become degenerate; decline in good
      qualities; deterioration; meanness.
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            Degeneracy of spirit in a state of slavery.
                                                  --Addison.
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            To recover mankind out of their universal corruption
            and degeneracy.                       --S. Clarke.
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