debased
debased — 形容詞
1. describing something that has fallen to a worse state than before — usually in m
墮落的；貶損
形容道德或品質明顯下滑、不再受尊重
describing something that has fallen to a worse state than before — usually in moral standards, dignity, or worth — so that people no longer give it the respect it once had.
Critics said the reality show offered a debased version of family entertainment.
評論家表示，這個實境節目呈現的是一種墮落版本的家庭娛樂。
attributive: a debased version of [thing]
Lotte argued that the political debate had become coarse and debased by personal attacks.
Lotte 認為，這場政治辯論已被人身攻擊弄得粗鄙又墮落。
predicative: be debased by [cause]
The senator warned that lies in public life lead to a debased culture of trust.
這位參議員警告，公眾生活中的謊言會帶來一種貶損的信任文化。
Many readers feel the magazine has shrunk into a debased shadow of its former self.
許多讀者覺得這本雜誌已縮成自己昔日輝煌的墮落殘影。
Matthew refused to take part in what he called a debased ceremony empty of meaning.
Matthew 拒絕參加他口中那場空洞且貶損意義的儀式。
文法句型
a debased [noun]
be debased by [cause]
用法筆記
Almost always carries a negative moral judgement — the speaker is criticising the loss of dignity or worth, not just noting a change.
常見錯誤
debased — 動詞
1. to drag the standing, dignity, or quality of something down so that it deserves
貶低；糟蹋
把某事物的尊嚴或品質拉低，使人不再敬重
to drag the standing, dignity, or quality of something down so that it deserves less respect or counts for less than it did before.
Sayaka argued that constant shouting on talk shows debases public conversation.
Sayaka 認為，談話節目上不斷的叫罵正在貶低公眾對話。
transitive: debase [abstract noun]
Cheap medals handed out to everyone simply debase the meaning of true achievement.
獎牌人人有獎，只會糟蹋真正成就所代表的意義。
subject is a practice that lowers worth
Beatrix felt the gossip column debased the memory of her grandmother.
Beatrix 覺得那則八卦專欄貶低了她祖母的記憶。
The new owners debased the old theatre by turning it into a noisy souvenir shop.
新業主把這座老劇院改成喧鬧的紀念品店，糟蹋了它原有的價值。
Honest journalism is debased when reporters invent quotes to fit a story.
當記者編造引言來配合故事時，正派的新聞報導就被糟蹋了。
文法句型
debase [thing]
debase [thing] by [-ing]
用法筆記
Object is usually an abstract thing tied to honour, art, language, public life, or trust — rarely a concrete object. Often paired with 'by + -ing' to name the action that causes the fall.
常見錯誤
2. to cut down what a unit of money is really worth — for example, by mixing cheape
使貶值
降低貨幣或硬幣本身的實際價值
to cut down what a unit of money is really worth — for example, by mixing cheaper metal into coins or by borrowing far more than the currency can back.
Roman emperors debased the silver coin by adding more and more copper to each piece.
羅馬皇帝把愈來愈多的銅摻進銀幣，使這種錢幣不斷貶值。
debase + coin + by adding [cheap metal]
Kabir explained how heavy borrowing can debase a national currency over time.
Kabir 解釋了過度舉債如何長期使一國的貨幣貶值。
subject is a financial action; object is currency
Henry VIII debased the English penny so deeply that traders refused to accept it.
亨利八世把英國便士貶值得太厲害，連商人都拒絕收這種錢。
Critics argued that printing too much money would debase the country's savings.
批評者認為，大量印鈔將會使這個國家人民的儲蓄貶值。
- devalue
common modern term; can be a formal government act
- depreciate
gradual loss of value, often by market forces rather than action
- revalue
raise the official worth of a currency
文法句型
debase the currency / coin
debase [money] by [method]
用法筆記
Object is always a monetary unit (coin, currency, dollar, penny) or what that money buys for people. Distinguish from sense 1 by checking the object: money/coinage = sense 2; honour, art, language, public life = sense 1.