'degenerate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'degenerare', where 'de-' meant 'down from' and 'genus' meant 'birth, race'.

'degenerare' transformed into the French word 'dégénérer', and eventually became the modern English word 'degenerate' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to fall from a higher to a lower type', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to decline or deteriorate'.