dégénérer

to degenerate, to deteriorate

verb deh-zheh-neh-REH Rare

Origin: Latin 'degenerare' (to depart from one's race)

Usage Note

Dégénérer describes a situation or condition worsening over time, often used when a dispute or gathering turns ugly — la fête a dégénéré means 'the party got out of hand'. It conjugates like other -er verbs but has an accent change in some forms.

Examples

"La discussion a vite dégénéré en dispute."

Natural Translation

The discussion quickly degenerated into an argument.

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